268 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



ers only. These are unproductive; and as their presence is 

 of no benefit in supplying pollen to other plants, and as 

 their influence upon other plants is injurious as it tends to 

 the reproduction of their own kind, and is detrimental to 

 the seed produced, it is advisable to emasculate them, as a 

 stock breeder would do with his inferior male animals, by 

 cutting off the tassels as soon as they appear and before 

 they can shed any of their pollen. 



In practicing this method of improving seed one more 

 point should be noticed. This is to procure the very best 

 development of the parent plants by selecting the best sam- 

 ples of seed, and by giving them the highest possible culti- 

 vation. This is analogous to the high feeding of those 

 breeding animals w T hich are selected. for their excellent nat- 

 ural qualities for the improvement of their races. Plants 

 are affected in this way precisely as animals are. "Like 

 produces like" among plants and animals alike; and in the 

 improvement among vegetable species the principles which 

 govern the breeding of animals should prevail. 



Pedigree is the development of peculiarities by the con- 

 tinuous selection of parents. Plants are subject to this 

 development to the fullest extent, and a most remarkable 

 improvement has been effected in many of the plants grown 

 for farm crops by the continuous selection of the best seeds 

 from the best plants. This principle is not new by any means. 

 It was expressed many centuries ago by Virgil who in effect 

 says : "Unless the largest and best seed is carefully culled out 

 by hand the plants will degenerate." This is the invariable 

 experience of farmers at the present time who realize to the 

 fullest extent that "as they sow, so do they also reap." 



There have been some remarkable instances of the bene- 

 ficial results of this breeding of seeds. Wheat has been in- 

 creased in size of ear from 3 to 9 inches in length; and in 

 yield from 30 grains per ear to more than 100. The weight 

 of the grain has been increased up to 66 Ibs. per bushel, 

 and the yield per acre from 30 to 70 bushels. Corn has 

 been gradually brought to bear more ears upon the stalk, 

 from two to seven; and to enlarge the product up to 125 



