FOR BETTER CROPS 2T 



centuries. Hybridizing, by natural agencies, also may have 

 occasionally occurred often enough to aid materially in making 

 new varieties by blending the good qualities of two or more 

 parent kinds. 



Few Varieties in World's Gxeat Wheat Crop — At present 

 there are thousands of varieties of wheat, most of which have 

 been originated in recent years by wheat breeders working with 

 more or less of system. But the world's great crop of wheat is 

 nearly all produced by a few dozen varieties. 



The fingers of both hands would enumerate the main varieties; 

 in this country, each of which spreads over not more than 

 several states. 



In Europe likewise there is a group of several varieties of 

 wheat which make the bulk of the crop. And it is so with the 

 other cereals — there is a relatively small number of dominating 

 varieties. 



Though the recent great activity in breeding wheat is 

 resulting in originating thousands, if not tens of thousands of 

 new selected and new hybrid wheats, this work is done with 

 such care that only the relatively few best will escape the hands- 

 of the experiment station or other trained breeders. 



Small Yield in America a National Disgrace — That 

 American wheat yields an average of less than fifteen bushels 

 per acre is a national disgrace which can be cured by two means: 



The betterment of the soil conditions under which the crop 

 may yield more. 



The improvement of the yielding powder of the varieties 

 planted. 



Since the improvement of the fields may be discussed at once 

 for all six of the small grains, that will be taken up first, and 

 the breeding of each crop will be dealt with more in detail 

 under the respective species. 



Our national average yield of wheat should be increased from 

 fifteen to twentj^-five bushels per acre. By better preparation 

 of the land five bushels of this increase can be gained and bj' 

 wheat breeding the other five bushels. 



More Careful Crop Rotation to Pay the Cost — The five 

 bushels gain from better organized field and farm management 

 will probably cost three dollars annually; and this must be paid 

 by the grower in a more carefully managed scheme of crop 

 rotation, in fertilizers, and in cleaner and better intercultural 

 tillage of the hoed crops with which the wheat alternates in the 

 rotation. 



The five bushels from breeding and good seed will not cost 

 ten cents an acre, and of this the national and state governments- 



