164 IMPROVEMENT OF PLANTS 



Bud Variation. Sometimes a certain branch of the tree will 

 show marked and desirable characteristics which may be propa- 

 gated by transferring its buds to other kindred plants. The 

 nectarine with its smooth skin as well as its delicious flavor resulted 

 from a bud variation of the peach. Choice varieties of peaches, 

 plums, apricots, pears, apples, roses, and many other kinds of 

 plants have been secured through bud variation. 



The Law of Heredity. Variation is the starting point of plant 

 improvement, but the production of any new plant is of no value 

 if its characteristics cannot be transmitted to its offspring. The 

 general law of heredity is that " Like begets like " ; for example, 

 corn produces corn and not some other kind of grain. According 

 to this law we also expect the offspring to a certain extent to show 

 the same general and special characteristics as are found in the 

 parent plant. Thus a bitter orange will produce bitter oranges, 

 sweet corn will produce sweet corn, bearded wheat will produce 

 bearded wheat. We have already learned how Mr. Fultz discovered 

 a few heads of beardless wheat in his field of bearded wheat and 

 how by planting the grains of these heads he was able to produce 

 and propagate a new variety of wheat. But for the law of heredity 

 his discovery would have been of no value since the new species 

 could have not been propagated. 



Selection. In going through a field of corn we find that some 

 stalks have put all their growth in the stalk and blades and have 

 produced small ears of corn ; one, perhaps, has only a single large 

 ear while another has produced two or more large ears. In 

 some cases we may find that the ear has a large cob and the 

 grains are small, and in other cases we may find large grains and 

 small cobs. If we are growing corn for the purpose of securing large 

 and perfect cobs, we select seed corn from ears having large cobs. 

 In Missouri and some other States cobs are used for making corn- 

 cob pipes, and the cobs are more valuable than the corn itself. 

 Hence in the vicinity of these cob pipe factories farmers select 

 their seed corn with reference to the cob only. By careful selec- 

 tion from time to time some farmers have succeeded in raising a 

 variety of corn having large ears with large cobs and fairly good- 

 sized grains. In the majority of cases farmers live in communities 

 where the cobs have no particular commercial value and conse- 



