Improvement of the Plants of the Farm. 
93 
I have probably named some of the best sorts of cereals in 
various districts, but plant-improvers are generally of opinion 
that the best sorts degenerate. This, however, is a moot point, 
and the so-called degeneration often means only want of care 
or soil-exhaustion. On the other hand the last century had its 
" best sorts " like the present ; and Mr. Carruthers can show 
seven boxes of samples of wheat collected by Sir Joseph Banks 
early in this century, each labelled with its name ; and probably 
nine-tenths of these varieties are now quite unknown to the 
farmers in the districts where they were then cultivated. 
Professor Brown, of the Ontario Agricultural College, gives 
the following example of the degeneracy of a famous Canadian 
variety of wheat : — 
" I have been offered again and again, by our millers and our Government, 
all the money that any one need desire, to bring back the old Bed Fife (we 
don't use the distinction ' Bed ' here), the best spring wheat that Canada ever 
had. It has, however, left us, what owing to is not clear. Neither in yield nor 
sample can we grow the good old Fife. We find a decided improvement in 
its production on the new lands of Man itoba. Seed from here to there comes 
back after three years much better filled, better in colour, and more even in 
size of berries, but yet not the good old Fife of Ontario." 
The progress of degeneracy is prevented by taking care of 
old sorts or the introduction of new ones, and improvers there- 
fore may rely on the permanent character of their vocation. 
Peas, Beans, " Roots," Potatoes, and Forage Plants. — I do not 
|j propose writing an essay on each of these plants. My readers 
are aware that peas in gardens have been greatly improved since 
the original modifications effected by Thomas Andrew Knight as 
the result of skilful crossing. Some of my correspondents are 
trying the improved garden peas for field culture. It has 
j certainly become desirable in many districts to cultivate varieties 
]' for marketing, instead of continuing the growth of the old 
, grey and maple peas. By sowing the improved sorts, a crop 
may be obtained which will perhaps be valuable for pick- 
ing and marketing when green, and, on the other hand, if it 
should not be in demand for that purpose, the produce would 
still be worth several shillings per quarter more than the old 
sorts of peas, such as maple and early duns. Both growers and 
[seedsmen, and the hybridisers, who are at this time giving 
great attention to peas, are doing so with a view to the double 
object I have mentioned. 
A correspondent writes of beans from an eastern county — 
" The wioter bean introduced into this district by me at least forty years 
ftgo is the most certain in regard to yield, exhausts the land less, and is less 
particular as to soil than any other variety. By selection it has become 
ighter in colour and the seeds larger." 
