210 BREEDING CROP PLANTS 



plant selections. The hereditary constancy of forms so isolated 

 may be tested by selfing or by adopting methods which insure 

 close breeding. 



Breeding Timothy. The United States Department of Agri- 

 culture has carried on extensive experiments in timothy breeding 

 at New London and North Ridgeville, Ohio, but unfortunately 

 the work has not been published. As a result of breeding, two 

 improved varieties have been widely distributed through the 

 Ohio Experiment Station. The Cornell and Svalof Experiment 

 Stations have done considerable timothy breeding. 



Webber et al (1912) published a detailed report of the experi- 

 ments as carried on at Cornell. Samples of timothy seed were 

 procured from various sources in the United States, Canada and 

 other countries. This seed produced an abundance of different 

 forms from which selections were made. Individual plants were 

 selected on the basis of the following characters; 



1. High-yielding ability. 



2. Height. 



3. Broad and thick plants, which stool abundantly. 



4. Many and dense culms. 



5. Erect, non-lodging plants. 



6. Many large leaves. 



7. Leaves extending well toward the top of the plant. 



8. Leaves remaining green until plant is nearly ready to harvest. 



9. Rust resistance. 



10.' Spikes of medium size, setting seed freely. 



The ultimate aim was to produce a high-yielding variety. 

 A selected plant was dug up and vegetatively propagated by 

 separating bulblets from it. The bulblets were set out in rows 

 (16 to 24 per row) and allowed plenty of space for individual 

 development. Self-fertilized seed from these various clones 

 was planted in sterilized soil and the seedlings were transplanted 

 in rows as above. By a comparison of these rows and the re- 

 spective clones from which they came it was found whether they 

 were breeding true for the characters desired. When sufficient 

 seed was available, plots were sown broadcast and yields obtained. 

 As soon as a form appeared valuable and bred comparatively 

 true, it was isolated and increased. 



According to Webber self-fertilized seed may be produced by 

 placing several spikes of the same plant, just before blooming, 

 under a paper bag. At University Farm Minn., only a few seeds 



