1908 \ Field for Economic Plant Breeding 13 
their own seed by selection in the field. None of them, however, 
that I know of has resorted to pedigreed breeding, and if any 
acclimated corn of pure pedigree is being offered to the farmers 
of the cotton belt, I do not know of it. 
My own work, begun only a year ago, indicates as great varia- 
bility in the yielding power of individual ears as has been noted 
by Mr. J. Dwight Funk and Prof. C. G. Hopkins of Illinois. A 
I most notable result in my experiments was the absolute failure of 
the seed ear which in all visible points was best. 
The limits of this paper do not allow mention of the breeding 
requirements of each of the many southern economic plants. 
Suffice it to say that nearly all of them (and their number is 
legion) can be greatly improved in quality and productive capac- 
ity by systematic breeding. 
The record of southern plant breeding is, as yet, very short. 
Here and there, work has begun and quick and valuable results 
have invariably followed ; but compared with what yet remains to 
be done, that already accomplished is indeed small. 
No fairer or broader field exists in American Agriculture today 
than the field for economic plant breeding in the Cotton Belt. 
Harts ville, S. C. 
