303 



important than fertility of the soil as factors in permanent ijrain 

 growing. The matter of soil exhaustion is so well known that it is 

 the staple argument with the majority of popular writers and 

 speakers on agriculture; but. so far as I have i)ersonally seen or have 

 been able to learn from the observations or the experience of others, 

 in every locality in this countrv where wheat growing has suddenly 

 risen to large tigures the quality and the yield have diminished more 

 rapidly from carelessness in the selection of the seed and in the care 

 of the crop than from mere soil exhaustion. 



"While there is no absolute proof that any variety of cereal has ever 

 originated in a " sport," nevertheless the indications are that soniie have 

 so originated. The new variety of Baniia cotton originated in a 

 single plant, entirely unlike its fellows, found in a cotton field in the 

 Nile Valley in 1873, and the variety has already nearly revolutionized 

 cotton culture in Egypt. (McCoan, Egypt as it Is, p. 187, and Kew 

 Rept. for 1877, p. 26, fig. 7.) Cotton is propagated from the seed 

 as the cereals are, but the plant being a more conspicuous one, a sport 

 would be more liable to be noticed. A single cereal plant, unlike its 

 fellows, in a great field of grain w^ould be gathered unnoticed unless 

 some very unusual accident secured its preservation. 



It is well known, however, that many varieties of grain have origi- 

 nated in some single plant differing from its fellows found growing 

 in some exceptional place, but how that plant acquired its special 

 characters, whether suddenly, as sports do, or not, we have no knowl- 

 edge. We simply and only know that here and there some single 

 plant has been found that represents to us a new variety ready made, 

 and varieties have been perpetuated from such plants which have 

 grown true to the seed and which have been valuable and enduring. 

 The variety of oats known as '' potato oats " is said to have originated 

 in a single plant found growing in a potato patch (hence the name) 

 in Cumberland, England, in 1778 (Allen, New America Farm Book, 

 p. 163), or, as some say, in 1789 (Stephen's Farmers' Guide, I, 4-19). 

 This variety, after nearly a hundred years' existence, is still one of 

 the best and brings, it is said, the highest price in the English markets. 

 Its excellence has been proved throughout Europe and entirely across 

 the continent of America, for it is in common cultivation from Maine 

 to Oregon and "Washington. 



The Clawson wheat originated in a single plant found growing by 

 a stump in the State of New York. Darwin says that the Fenton 

 wheat was found growing on a pile of detritus in a (luarry in Eng- 

 land. The Chidham wheat originated from an ear found growing 

 in a hedge in the same countrv, and numerous other examples are 

 recorded in the agricultural literature of this century. It is only 

 fair to say, however, that many varieties of such origin have been 

 rejected on trial as of no value, just as numerous varieties of seedling 

 apples and potatoes are rejected. It is only the few^ that are actual 

 improvements on what we had before. In ornamental and otlier 

 garden jDlants the tendency to " sport " is much increased by cross- 

 ing varieties, and this is probably also true of all classes of cultivated 

 plants. 



Using seed which has been grown in some other locality, or, as 

 farmers say. " a change of seed," has been practiced by grain growers 

 m all ages; and that this is very often attended with an increase of 



