NILSSON'S DISCOVERY 41 



Of course the influence of better nourishment can only 

 attain its highest degree in the lapse of some generations, 

 since only the very best nourished kernels will yield the 

 very richest plants. In some cases, this process of artificial 

 amelioration will be rapid, but in others more or less slow. 

 Some instances may be given. Hallett's " Original Red 

 Wheat" was started from an ear containing 47 kernels. 

 The next generation yielded an ear of 79 grains, and the 

 second came up to 90 in the richest ear. During the seven- 

 teen following generations, this limit has practically not been 

 exceeded, the richest ear during all that time having produced 

 only 91 kernels. In other cases the development was equal- 

 ly rapid in the beginning, but lasted during a longer period. 

 The Hunter's Wheat began with 60, increased in the first 

 year to 90, and then during some twelve years came up to 

 1 06 in the best ear. The Victoria Wheat began with 53 

 and slowly increased to 101, the gain of the first generation 

 being only seven kernels for the best ear. Hallett assumed 

 that by this treatment the hereditary qualities were affected 

 in the same way as the visible characteristics, or in other 

 words, that the varieties were directly improved by the cul- 

 ture, the selection having 'only the purpose of fixing the 

 acquired qualities. 



A second feature of Hallett's method was the great care 

 bestowed by him on the comparison and testing of his plants. 

 For each single individual, the heads were counted and the 

 exact number of kernels in each ear traced. These figures 

 were considered as the main qualities according to which 

 the plants were judged, and on this ground the average 

 specimens and those of minor worth could be eliminated. 

 The prominent ones were, then brought to his study and 

 minutely compared in all their visible marks. In this waj 

 the very best specimen was isolated, and the same worl 

 begun for its culms and ears. Only one ear was ultimate!) 



