X12 FLAXT-BREEDING 



Jn some of the bulletins of the agricultural experiment 

 stations, dealing with the improvetnent of com, it has been 

 pcjtnted out that we do not yet imdeistand many of the prin- 

 cifdes undedyii^ com-bieeding, but that on the other hand 

 it is to Ae interest <^ each corn-grower to obtain as com- 

 plete a knowledge on this point as possible, in order thereby 

 to bring the fadtess of his selecti<Hi under his controL 



From a scientific point of Tiew, however, there can be 

 fitde doubt that flie same la^^ that govern the variability 

 and the sdecticMi of cereals in g<aieral contnd the corres- 

 ponding phrfHnf unrwna for com, too, and that the esistiiig 

 (fifferences are, as a act, <Hily due to those plain and easily 

 lea^Toizable characters which contrast com with the smaller 

 cereals. 



For tMs reason I propose to gjve a description of the 

 :.:::5 of variaMitv and the methods of sdection of com, 

 based on the priocijdes evolved icr cereals in my previous 

 cfaapteis. I diall conscieQtioushr describe the facts, but shall 

 rdv in their appredalion partly on the obtained results, and 

 r .L h- cm. a cemiparisiHi with the Swedidi and German prin- 

 ciples. In doing so my chief aim is to awaken tiie interest 

 : >e who are in <Kie way or another ccMocemed in 

 : r ing, fee i srady of analogous questicms in other 



:r js. 



T"-v snadv of viLriiri^iiy is the bass c: al. selection- 

 TJiv ~ ri we are oiabled to discerr '!_ ': iizerezces and 

 : their po^Me industrial va^ue, t::e : :: ;~ ~v 



Siii^ . Zft z- ~ our choice. 



MoreoT^. rrm variabifity covers ?: "~ ~ : - -r? 



:: - -. :- . _ :he sigmScanceof the .sir.^-, r r i- 



: -. - -p ^'^'^ ^^ purpose of race-":rr j is so 



. z.r^:i:. ihat it is <rf pre-eminent imponan^- .. aave 

 a jnn: ~ -^ey of the most obvioi^ r^-=.^ 



E^:z - - -" knows that com is or.-. .: :_. ni _;: i:i_:-i;mi 



