LUTHER BURBANK 



influences of hybridization. Professor Biffen even 

 found that there was a difference in the manifes- 

 tation of dominance and recessiveness with regard 

 to certain characteristics between different varie- 

 ties of wheat. 



Thus in the matter of the glumes, where the 

 parent that bore a felted glume was the variety 

 known as "rough chaff," the feltfed glume proved 

 dominant over the smooth glume. But where the 

 felted parent was the variety known as rivet wheat, 

 the phenomena of dominance were irregularly 

 manifested, or manifested not at all. So hybrids 

 of the rivet wheat were listed in the class of irreg- 

 ular dominants, as above outlined. 

 Practical Application of the New Knowledge 



Having thus analyzed his wheat plants and 

 made himself familiar with their hereditary possi- 

 bilities, Professor Biffen was ready to make appli- 

 cation of his knowledge to the improvement of 

 existing varieties of wheat. 



In particular he desired to produce a variety 

 of wheat that would be immune to rust, yet would 

 at the same time produce a good head of wheat 

 having the quality described by the miller as 

 "hardness" — a quality that is essential to the mak- 

 ing of high grade flour, yet which some otherwise 

 excellent wheats altogether lack. 



Material was at hand for crossing experiments 



[68] 



