22 



tree-performance progeny records with 5,464 lemon trees, 450 orange trees, and 

 about 500 trees of other citrus varieties. As soon as funds can be secured for 

 this work, the number of trees where investigational records are kept will be 

 greatly increased. 



Similar investigational and commercial progeny tests to those carried on in 

 the citrus are also being conducted with cotton, tobacco, corn, oats, wheat, flax, 

 timothy, and varieties of other agricultural crops under different auspices in 

 various agricultural districts of the United States. 



The Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Experiment Station in 1920 made a begin- 

 ning of progeny test work with selected plants of the Yellow Caledonia, H 109, 

 D1135, and other sugar cane varieties grown in the Hawaiian Islands. The 

 purpose of this work is to establish and maintain reliable sources of propagating 

 material. 



THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF BUD MUTATIONS AND BUD SELECTION. 



The overshadowing interest amongst scientists in the study of the phenome- 

 non of sexual variations in plants and the behavior of seedlings grown from 

 these variations during the past century, has resulted in the partial neglect of the 

 equally interesting and important field of the investigation of bud mutations and 

 the characteristics of plants originating from them. 



As the writer sees it, the scientific problems in this connection include a 

 study of the extent and frequency of bud mutations in all of the agricultural 

 varieties, an investigation of the fundamental causes of the phenomenon of bud 

 mutation, and the development of improved methods of propagation. This in- 

 vestigational work should precede and lay the foundation for the commercial 

 work. While this arrangement may apparently delay the utilization of bud 

 selection, it may, as a matter of fact, hasten the time when economic results can 

 be obtained. The scientific studies of bud mutations, their origin and develop- 

 ment, will probably result in the discovery of simplified methods of bud selection 

 and insure protection from disappointments due to operations founded upon 

 defective plans based upon incomplete knowledge leading to premature and 

 oftentimes erroneous conclusions. In some instances it may be found to be 

 feasible to carry on the investigational and the commercial work simultaneously. 

 The writer believes that such is the case in the work for the improvement of 

 sugar cane through bud selection. As the result of an experience covering more 

 than twenty years in both the investigational and commercial work of plant 

 breeding, the writer wishes to emphasize the necessity for scientific studies in 

 this connection in order to discover the underlying principles of bud mutation 

 and bud selection as a means for establishing this work in every instance upon 

 a sound and lasting foundation. 



PIONEERS IN BUD MUTATION AND SELECTION WORK. 



It seems fitting in this paper to refer to the pioneer students. of bud variation 

 and bud selection. No attempt will be made here to mention all of the men who 

 have been concerned in this activity. These names include Carriere, Darwin, 



