248 



THE WHEAT CULTIIRIST. 



cull out the ears which differ from the original stand- 

 ard of the selected ears. If the variety is the result of 

 hybridization, this culling is all-important. 



The ears will differ considerably in appearance, some 

 resembling the kind from which the fertilizing pollen 

 was derived, and others more closely resembling the 

 variety which the pollen fertilized. Uniformity is es- 

 sential to entitle any grain to the term variety ; and this 

 uniformity can only be secm'ed by constant care in se- 

 lection. After the type becomes fixed, sporting and 

 degenerating will almost wholly cease, provided ordinary 

 care is taken by the propagator. But every established 

 variety should be kept up by occasional selection of the 

 best ears. 



In an industrial point of view, the propagating of a 

 new prolific variety of any of the grains is of immense 

 national importance. Any new variety which would 

 yield from one to four bushels of additional grain per 

 acre over the ordinary varieties in cultivation would tend 

 thus far to raise the resources of om* own soils. In this 

 direction an extensive and most inviting field is open 

 to all cultivators. Were agriculturists to study more 

 closely the operations of horticulturists, much benefit 

 would result to all. Farmers generally not unly under- 

 value, but wholly disregard what horticulturists have 

 done for agriculture. 



The pleasure, and in exceptional cases the profit, to 

 be derived is so considerable, that the propagator of new 

 varieties will generally be amply rewarded for the time 

 occupied in conducting the various operations of select- 

 ing, sowing, and reaping new kinds of grain. Those 

 farmers who are anxious to improve the varieties of 

 grain in cultivation — wheat, oats, or barley — should adopt 



