118 
corresponding to the American bison which formerly occupied the ranges. He 
becomes heavy In front and light behind. 
What has been gained by breeding in one place may be quickly lost under 
changes of environment and state. This is one of the strongest arguments for 
the maintenance Of experiment stations in the several States, where work can 
be done suitable and valuable to the different regions of the country. In order 
that the farmers can make intelligent use of the results of our breeding they 
must be informed of its importance and learn to select, in order to keep up the 
improvement. In general, undirected variation brings about deterioration. 
Varieties do not stand still, whether or not they are being acted upon by the 
powerful forces used in artificial direction of breeding, and every farmer should 
be well enough grounded in the simpler principles at least to enable him to make 
continued use of an improvement. 
L. II. Pammel, of Iowa. A number of years ago I had the good fortune to 
have taken up this question of varieties of fruits. I was astonished to find the 
effect that climate has upon the development of fruit. The Duchess grown in 
Montreal is very different from the Duchess grown in Iowa. The Montreal 
apple was far superior in quality. Again, I found that apples succeeded best or 
had the highest quality when grown where they had originated. Thus, such 
varieties as Spitzenburg. Baldwin, Grimes Golden, and others have a limited 
distribution where they attain the best quality. I was astonished last summer 
to find in Montana that apples succeeded in regions where frequent frosts occur. 
In fact I was told that in the Bitter Root Valley on one of the streams they had 
set out an orchard of fruit trees above 3,000 feet altitude, where frosts occur 
nearly every week in the year. But take another side of the question, and that 
is an important one to consider in connection with the breeding of varieties. 
Take the variety of wheat that Professor Hays has produced in Minnesota. This 
variety has produced an increased yield in Minnesota, but the same variety tried 
in the State of Iowa did not show this increase in yield. Again we all know 
that plants when grown in climates not adapted to them begin to show the 
effects of disease. Some years ago when I was investigating the disease of oats, 
and especially the variety most subject to the disease, I found that the Texas 
Rust Proof oat was severely affected with rust, but it is said to have been rust 
proof in Texas. We know then that climate is an important factor and that 
each regiou must do its own work in connection with the production of varieties. 
1 he varieties of wheat that have succeeded best in Minnesota will not do for 
Wyoming, and so on. 
Professor Hays's paper was further discussed by W. EL Jordan, C. D. Smith, 
C. A. Keffer, C. G. Hopkins, and It. T. French. 
For further discussion of the subject of plant breeding, see page 119. 
Afternoon Session, Wednesdax, November 2, 1904. 
Nomination of Officers. 
The chair was authorized to appoint a committee of three to present nomina- 
tions for the officers of the section, including two members of the executive 
committee. The committee appointed consisted of H. P. Armsby, of Pennsyl- 
vania ; W. A. Henry, of Wisconsin, and R. J. Redding, of Georgia. (For report, 
see p. <;."). > 
Topics for Discussion next Year. 
On motion the subjects of soil investigation and of demonstration work by the 
stations were selected for discussion at the next annual meeting of the section. 
