250 AGRICULTURE. 



III. Given Normal Conditions. 



The seedlings should be kept under normal 

 conditions, for any variation in the conditions 

 would have a tendency to induce variation in 

 the plant (see "Variation," p. 214). 



IV. Selection Should Be Repeated 



from generation to generation, so that these 

 type characteristics may be transmitted, accu- 

 mulated, and fixed ; thus will result the improve 

 ment of the type. 



V. Example of Type Improvement. 



As an example of the improvement of the 

 existing type may be given the Boone County 

 white corn improved by Mr. James Riley, of 

 Indiana. He took for his type a fine white sort, 

 selecting seed from the best-formed plants bear- 

 ing one or two well-formed ears. He con- 

 tinued this selection for a number of years. In 

 addition to this he went through the fields just 

 as the tassels were appearing and cut out all 

 imperfect and barren stalks. In this way the 

 type was improved, as is shown in Fig. 80. * 



B. ORIGINATING NEW VARIETIES. 



I. Determining the Ideal. 



I. The first step in originating a new variety 

 is to determine definitely the characteristics 

 which one wishes to develop in the new plant. 



* Let each student prepare a definite, original, feasible, plan 

 for the improvement of some promising existing type which 

 needs improving. 



