246 THE WHEAT CULTUKIST. 



ing in size, in form, and in general appearance from 

 those growing beside them. Some of these can be 

 recognized as the ears of established varieties ; but a few 

 will be distinct from any of the kinds in cultivation. 

 Farmers usually bestow little attention on the different 

 kinds of ears which may be sometimes seen growing in 

 the same field, and which can be best observed during 

 the cutting and harvesting of the crop ; but if one farm 

 er in a thousand would undertake the collection of 

 such ears with the intention of sowing the seed, and thus 

 propagating the kinds, the number of varieties would 

 soon be considerably increased, and the kinds in culti 

 vation would be improved by this selection of the best 

 ears. Those who intend to collect ears of one or more 

 of the cereals should proceed methodically, not only 

 when selecting, but in keeping the ears of the apparently 

 different kinds distinct at the time of gathering them, so 

 that each kind can be sown by itself, and the produce 

 from the seed of the selected ears collected and stored 

 for future sowing. During the time of selecting ears, 

 small bags formed of cloth should be carried, and as the 

 ears are separated from the stalks, they should be placed 

 in one or other of the bags. Care should be exercised 

 to prevent confusion and intermixing of the seeds. 



Every circumstance should be noted at the time, such 

 as the field of grain in which the ears were gathered ; 

 the characteristic features which the ears presented in 

 growing, such as size, form, whether the ears are close 

 or open, and the color of the chaff and straw, chaff 

 smooth or downy, and other points deemed worthy of 

 being recorded. A written description should be placed 

 with the ears put into each bag for after reference, as it 

 is seldom advisable to trust to the memory as to facts. 



