Gladiolus Studies — II 239 



are." C. Betscher believes that "few species are needed, for quite as 

 many points can be secured without them." Luther Burbank \vrites that 

 "it is slow, uncertain work when using wild species." 



Groff (1907 a) believes the only system to follow for the production 

 of the highest types for commercial value, is that 



of breeding from domestic specific types as sires on selected females. . . . The 

 use of wild species mth the hope of attaining a similar ratio of such results -'s relatively 

 absurd, as the only value that any wild species can have to a breeder for practical 

 results is as foundation or laboratory stock, to be discarded yearly with their early 

 hybrids as he advances step by step towards his ideal. 



********** 



. . . By using all obtainable species he multiplies the possibilities for practical 

 results and increased diversity in the material to be evolved from the product of future 

 years, and yearly discarding species and early hybrids as they are superseded in the 

 course of his operations. 



Wild species are only of value so far as they may supply some desirable quality 

 for incorporation into a domestic type containing other good qualities, such as size, 

 vigour, vitality, and adaptability. . . . 



. . . Breeding from wild species is therefore of little practical value, as the farther 

 our removal from their many objectionable features the better, when b}' proper 

 selection their best qualities can be controlled and applied according to our knowledge 

 and discretion. 



How many animal-breeders would be satisfied with sires whose progeny were largely 

 weeds? How were these high-class animal sires produced? How are new domestic 

 races and strains of cattle, sheep, dogs, poultry, pigeons, and other animals and birds 

 obtained? Certainly not by the general practice of plant-breeders. 



Of what practical value is the knowledge of the component ratios of life forces in 

 simple hybrids, in comparison with that knowledge giving results in the highest ratios 

 of useful and valuable qualities? — thereby saving labour, time, space, and e.xpense, 

 and giving, in the place of curios, the highest possible percentage of quality in economic 

 types. ^ 



. . . Select and develop domestic races and sections of such high quality, vitality, 

 and general adaptability, that their progenj' will not only be of higher quality than 

 the parents, but that this quality will be produced in quantity in the highest possible 

 ratio. This is practical plant-breeding. 



Again, before the American Breeders' Association, Groff (1907 c) 

 expresses his opinion " that no simple or limited crossing can produce 

 the value, quality and satisfaction equal to those resulting from unlimited 

 removals from the wild species on the lines of scientific selection, guided 

 by learned human intelligence." 



As has been stated by the writer in a previous paper (Hottes, 19 15 a), 

 it must be admitted that greater progress can often be made by inter- 

 breeding established varieties; but when new features are to be added, 

 the employment of new species is advisable, or even imperative. These 

 should be the basis of hybridization. As years pass, the inferior seedlings 

 may be discarded, and the ideal form may be far removed from the wild 

 species; but the ancestor is necessary. 



