632 



Plant Breeding at Aberystwyth. [Oct., 



most cases in any event, sooner or later, have to come to the 

 laboratories. A room of this kind was considered essential, 

 owing to the uncertainty of the seasons in the West, and it 

 has proved of great value during the present wet summer. 



The gardener's room is designed for dealing with the thresh- 

 ing and cleaning of small and special " lots " of seed such as 

 in many years may be " made " or partially " made " in 

 the drying room. Special tackle run off a f h.p. electric 

 motor is being used for this purpose. The label writing, 

 preparation of pollen-proof capsules, and such like work, will 

 also be undertaken in this room. 



The College Authorities were able to place about 4 acres 

 of garden ground at the disposal of the Station at its incep- 

 tion. This ground was broken and turned into allotments 

 during the War, and has since been converted into very 

 satisfactory gardens. It has the great advantage of being 

 within about 15 minutes' walk of the laboratories. In addition 

 a 13-acre arable field within easv reach of the gardens was 

 taken in hand for larger trials. A farm of 92 acres has now 

 also been acquired for the sole use of the Plant Breeding 

 Station. The farm practically adjoins the experimental field 

 referred to above, and will be available for the work of the 

 current session. 



The preliminary arrangements necessary before exhaustive 

 investigations could be proceeded with have thus been com- 

 pleted within eighteen months of the foundation of the Station. 



Before entering into details as to the manner in which the 

 gardens have been laid out it is desirable to review briefly the 

 work already in hand, and to indicate the lines upon which it 

 is proposed to develop the activities of the Station. 



Herbage Plants. — A characteristic feature of the agriculture 

 of Wales and the West of England is grassland; not only 

 permanent, but also temporary grass. 



Leys of 4 to 6 years' duration are commonly employed in 

 the rotation. It was decided, therefore, to devote very con- 

 siderable attention to the problems connected with the 

 improvement of herbage plants, the more so since this is an 

 aspect of economic plant breeding which has not been 

 exhaustively investigated in this country. 



In dealing with grasses and clovers numerous difficulties 

 immediately present themselves. It is essential, for instance, 

 to be able to study single plants, and with grasses sown in 

 drills or broadcasted it is not easy to separate out individual 



