IMPROVING SELF-FERTILIZING CROPS 137 



progeny of cross-bred wheats. The progeny from the cross 

 made by A. P. Saunders was found to differ strikingly in gluten 

 content of seeds. The laborious practice of chewing a small 

 sample of each pure line was made the basis of selections . One 

 of the high-gluten selections isolated from this mixture of types 

 was named Marquis. It was first grown as a pure form in 1904 

 and the bread-making tests made in 1907 fully established its 

 bread-making qualities. In addition to this character it is early 

 ripening, thus often escaping rust, has stiff straw, high yielding 

 ability, distinctive appearance of seed, and remarkably wide 

 adaptations. These qualities have made it popular among the 

 farmers in the spring wheat belt. 



FIG. 28. Minhardi, Minn. 1505. Grown in 1918. This variety is very 



winter-hardy. 



Winter Wheat Breeding at the Minnesota Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. One of the most urgent needs in order to bring 

 about the successful production of winter wheat in Minnesota 

 is a strain which will withstand the severe winters. This ideal 

 has more or less been the goal of breeding operations from the 

 first. Yield and quality also have been given considerable 

 attention. Before attempting crossing, varieties were obtained 

 from all over the world. Odessa, an awnless, red-chaffed 

 variety of Russian origin, has proved most winter-hardy , although 



