v.] cooper's experiments. 153 



author of nature has so constructed that wonderful 

 machine, if I may be allowed the expression, as to in- 

 cline every kind of soil and climate to naturalize all kinds 

 of vegetables, that it will produce at any rate, the better 

 to suit them, if the agriculturists will do their part in 

 selecting the most proper seed." For over fifty years he 

 had maintained the ' ' long, warty squash ' ' on the farm 

 "without changing," and he adds that they "are now 

 far preferable to what they were at first." He had also 

 maintained early peas and asparagus in vigorous and 

 pure condition for over half a century. It is significant 

 that both of these, also, had been "improved." He 

 made similarly successful experiments in keeping and 

 improving strains of the potato, for even at that time 

 the complaint was "very general," as he writes, "that 

 potatoes of every kind degenerate." Indian corn was 

 equally plastic in his hands. " For many years past," 

 he says, in closing, "I have renewed the whole seed of 

 my winter grain, from a single plant which I have 

 observed to be more productive, and of better quality 

 than the rest ; a practice which I am satisfied, has been 

 of great use." 



It will thus be seen that Cooper clearly apprehended 

 the value of repeated selection for the amelioration of 

 plants; and finding it so potent, he made the natural 

 error of discouraging the change of seed. For himself, 

 however, he was wholly correct in refusing a change of 

 seed, because his own seed was better than that which he 

 would be likely to secure by exchange ; but we now know 

 that while selection is the greater factor, change of seed 

 is also important because it incites variation.* Cooper 



*For a somewhat full discussion of the philosophy of the benefits resulting 

 from change of seed, the reader is referred to my handbook upon " Plant-Breed- 

 ing." 



