THE ORIGIN OF RED BOBS 269 



whereas Marquis, on a similar plot and under similar 

 conditions, yielded at the rate of 43 bushels to the acre. 



In 1915, the seed of Red Bobs, containing three strains, 

 was again sown on a -54-acre plot. A certain number of 

 heads of the three types were selected by hand to seed 

 head-row plots the next year and then the rest of the 

 plants were threshed together. 



In 1916, Mr. Wheeler again sowed his usual sets of 

 plots with Red Bobs, but unfortunately a severe hailstorm 

 completely destroyed his plants. However, he still 

 possessed about 10 bushels of seed, a sheaf or two, and 

 a few heads which had been held over from the harvest 

 of 1915, and all this was available for seed the next year. 

 The chief result of the destruction wrought by the hail 

 was a loss of a whole year in the multiplication of the 

 seed. 



In 1917, Mr. Wheeler sowed a five-acre field with Red 

 Bobs containing three types obtained from a bulk thresh- 

 ing. The harvest consisted of 200 bushels of seed and was 

 disposed of to the Grain Growers' Guide. This company 

 has distributed the seed to those who subscribe to its paper 

 in 10, 20, 40, and 60 pound samples, and it is now 

 (1918) being grown by about 500 farmers on about 75 

 acres of land. Its test under diverse conditions is, there- 

 fore, only just beginning to be made. 



This year, 1918, Mr. Wheeler is continuing the study 

 of his three strains of Red Bobs, and it is possible that he 

 may eventually select one only for ultimate distribution. 

 The author visited Mr. Wheeler at his farm on the 23rd of 

 August and spent a whole day with him looking over the 

 plots, collecting the data of the history of his selections, 

 and in discussing his methods of work. The standing 

 crops had a very fine appearance and, in the 34-acre plots 



