242 ARID AGRICULTURE. 



a region where the conditions of soil and climate 

 are as unfavorable and trying as those in which 

 the crops are to be grown. A few yearns of care- 

 ful plant breeding will undoubtedly produce re- 

 sults of untold value to the whole arid region. 

 Our farm lands are vast in extent and the ranch 

 and farm interests are so great that a small in- 

 crease in yield or a small improvement in qual- 

 ity in the aggregate becomes worth many mill- 

 ions to the country. 



WHAT THE Plant breeding in the scientific sense is not 



practicable work for the farmer. He may do 

 much to keep up the high quality of his crops 

 by careful attention to seed selection. If he 

 raises seed of any crop for his own use he may 

 keep it pure by weeding out all plants or varie- 

 ties which would contaminate or mix his seed. 

 He may obtain small quantities of promising 

 new varieties and increase the seed by the best 

 methods. He may select the seed he expects to 

 save from the best parts of the field or from the 

 best potato or corn hills. Though he may not 

 establish new varieties, he may prevent much 

 running out and keep up a high standard of qual- 

 ity and quantity. This kind of plant-breeding 

 work is profitable for every farmer. He should 

 especially be on the watch for new improve- 

 ments which have been secured under conditions 

 of soil and climate similar to his own. 



