Individuality in Plants. 



37 



plots and in larger plots, so that the results of the new strains 

 could be compared with those of the standard varieties. We 

 have thus been able to obtain strains giving* larger yields of 

 grain of better quality than the original varieties. Especially has 

 this been true with Dawson's Golden Chaff, the Bulgarian, and 

 the Turkey Red. 



With the object of combining the good qualities and eliminating 

 the undesirable characteristics of the leading varieties of wheat, 

 work in hybridisation was started in 1902 and has been continued 

 each year since that date. Crosses have been made between the 

 Dawson's Golden Chaff and the Turkey Red, the Bulgarian, the 

 Tasmania Red, the Buda Pesth, the Geneva, and the Imperial 

 Amber varieties of winter wheat ; between the Bulgarian and the 

 Turkey Red varieties of winter wheat ; between the Red Fife spring 

 wheat and the Turkey Red winter wheat; between the Red Fife 

 and the Herison Bearded varieties of spring wheat ; and between 

 the Red Fife spring wheat and the Wild Goose and the Medeah 

 varieties of durum wheat. In 1909 no less than 21,365 hybrid 

 plants of winter wheat and 32,698 hybrid plants of spring wheat 

 were grown separately in the experimental grounds. Besides 

 these, fifty-nine plots of winter wheat and seventeen plots of spring 

 wheat hybrids were under test. The results obtained are 

 exceedingly interesting and very promising. To give these results 

 even in concise form would require a lengthy paper in itself. In 

 connection with this work we are exceedingly grateful for the 

 information and the inspiration of such men as Gregor Mendel, 

 Dr. de Vries, Dr. Nillson, Prof. Bateson, Dr. Wm. Saunders, 

 and others. The writer firmly believes that there was never a 

 time in which the outlook for the work in plant breeding was as 

 promising as it is at present. Good seed has a meaning far 

 deeper and far more significant than many of us have realised 

 in the past. 



VI. 



INDIVIDUALITY IN PLANTS. 



By L. S. KLINCK, Macdonald College, Quebec, Canada. 



No two plants are exactly alike. Indeed, a close study of 

 thousands of individuals reveals striking differences, not only 

 between plants of the same species but even between individuals of 

 the same variety. The majority of plants constituting improved 

 varieties of cereals, in this country, reveal on close examination 

 striking morphological and substantive differences. 



Morphological differences are most readily noticed. Each plant 

 in a plot of thousands may have its own individuality and still 

 bear unmistakable evidence of belonging to the same variety. 



