CROP IMPROVEMENT 165 



early and late blight, and perhaps to other serious diseases. Only strains 

 of high market quality should be perpetuated. The tubers should be of 

 medium size, smooth in outline, flat oval or flat oblong in shape and have 

 shallow eyes. 



Where carefully conducted, these methods of selection have resulted 

 in the improvement of the variety. 



Opportunities in Crop Improvement. — There is need in every com- 

 munity that at least one farmer make a specialty of producing and sell- 

 ing improved farm seeds. Such work is usually very remunerative, besides 

 being of value to the whole neighborhood. 



Testing of varieties and the improvement of certain crops may be 

 made a matter of community interest, especially where there is some 

 farmers' organization. There is also the opportunity of forming clubs or 

 associations for crop improvement, which may be quite local or stale- 

 wide, as in the case of many state crop improvement associations now 

 in existence. 



REFERENCES 



"Genetics." Walter. 

 " Cereals in America." Hunt. 

 ''Plant Breeding." Bailey and Gilbert. 

 "Fundamentals of Plant Breeding." Coulter. 

 Ontario Agricultural College Bulletin 228. "Farm Crops." 



Farmers' Bulletin 382, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. "Adulteration of Forage Plant 

 Seeds." 



