86 Breeding of Plants and Animals. 



encouragement. The small yellow variety commonly 

 grown in Kansas is being used as the main foundation 

 stock, but no doubt better varieties for this northern 

 climate will be found. 



The fourteen new varieties of timothy started four- 

 teen years ago were in field plots planted in 1900, 1901 

 and 1902. It was necessary to plow under all but the 

 plots planked in 1903, because the dry weather of the 

 two previous years had caused stands o>f grass too poor 

 and irregular to serve for purposes of comparison to 

 determine which will yield best. In 1903 volunteer 

 clover coming up irregularly in the plots on our 

 crowded little experiment farm placed our field com- 

 parisons another year off. After fourteen years of 

 work and waiting for statistical records, yet two years 

 in the future, one feels tempted to follow the example 

 of the breeder of meat producing animals and choose 

 for distribution the plants which are best in appearance 

 without more testing. And breeders must be practical, 

 and it is as impractical to depend wholly on statistics 

 as to be guided solely by appearance. But with the help 

 of co-operating stations it is hoped that in two or more 

 years we shall know \vhich of these fourteen kinds of 

 timothy should be sent out backed with a pedigree giv- 

 ing relative yields and values as food. A little more 

 patient waiting may give statistical pedigrees which will 

 fasten the interests of fanners and dealers to whichever 

 kind we may find the best yielder of superior crops. 

 Varieties which have no distinguishing marks must be 

 backed by statistical records. Some of our new varie- 

 ties of timothy have been bred for branched, or "barb- 

 ed" spikes, and these may be able better to gain wide 

 use because their statistical records can be attached to 

 a description as well as to a name or number. 



Of winter wheat 50,000 plants, 4x4 inches apart, 

 were planted in August and September, 1902, and 

 practically all survived the cold and made splendid 

 yields in 1903. Some field plots planted to our hardi- 

 est forms of winter wheat came through the past two* 



