ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
39 
cality where it is naturally found. The waters and the dry land, the lowlands and 
■e mountains, the torrid and the frigid zones, all have their special adaptations of 
limal life. Nothing is misplaced. We do not find white bears and seals at the 
luator, nor crocodiles and elephants at the poles; but each class of life has its home 
here it is most convenient—all through natural adaptation. 
The principle of adaption is one that is at all times and everywhere applicable in 
.rrning. We might as well expect figs of thistles, and grapes of thorns, as to expect 
field to grow a crop not adapted to it. One of the first things to find out is what 
•ops are suited to your soil—not only to the farm, as a whole, but to every part of it. 
Lany failures come from attempting to grow the wrong crop, and from applying the 
rong fertilizer. There must be perfect adaptation of crop to soil, and fertilizer to 
rop, if the best results are attained. 
But how does all this apply to dairying ? The principles of selection and adapta- 
on are applicable everywhere on the farm, and in nothing more so than in the dairy, 
■et me, however, further illustrate the application of the principle of selection. Many 
lilures have come from neglect to properly apply this principle. Prof. Saunders, of 
le Agricultural Department at Washington, tells us that “Most of our cultivated 
ices of plants have run into numerous varieties, many of them comparatively worth- 
iss.” He adds : U A test of their exact merits, with the result of discarding those of 
fieri or merit, would be the means of throwing from seed lists and catalogues many 
orthless things.” Prof. Blount, of Colorado, who has paid a good deal of attention 
> the cultivation of wheat, gives a brief summary of known results in the production 
f wheat and corn, growing out of careful selection and proper cultivation. He says 
lat well-authenticated records and reports show that 102 bushels of wheat have been 
roduced on an acre, from broadcast sowing. By special culture, 108 bushels per acre 
ave been reached. One pound of seed wheat has been known to produce 791 pounds 
f grain; and one kernel of wheat, by division, resetting and extra cultivation, has 
een made to produce 576,840 kernels—and he gives the names of the producers and 
le places where produced. He also tells us that 206 bushels of shelled corn have 
een produced by a single crop on one acre. Then pertinently he asks: “ Now, if 
'ith a little science and extra culture, the capacity of wheat and corn can be strained 
p to these figures, is there not room for doubling the averages by the ordinary method 
f cultivation? ” The professor gives it as his opinion that, “ By following the rules 
y which it is successfully carried out, and observing the natural laws that govern 
egetable growth, wheat can be made to double the length of the head and increase 
le grain 100 per cent, and its powers as much, while its quality will be so greatly im- 
roved that one will hardly recognize it as being the same kind, after three years’ im- 
rovement.” And he declares thatSeed wheat, as generally used now-a-days, is 
ardly fit for chicken feed, say nothing of using it for seed. It is degenerate, impure, 
ill of parasitic fungi, and simply ruinous to the farmer and to our health.” 
What should the common farmer do, in view of these facts? I will give the ans- 
r er in Prof. Blount’s own words : “ Up to this date, there are in the United States 
ver 350 different varieties of spring and winter wheats. Among all these that have 
ecome standards, are found typical and genuine grain, true to name, which any 
irmer, with an eye to improvement and profit, must see in his ripening crop. This 
enuine grain, which is always found in the largest stools—those that come up evenly 
)gether and ripen uniformly—he should select and pick himself, and sow on choice 
ind, cultivate, harvest and put away under lock and key, to be again sown, culti- 
ated and harvested by himself, that no meddling can interfere and no mixing can 
ike place.” In other words, select the best for seed, cultivate it in the best manner, 
nd keep it pure. Do this with all kinds of crops. 
The same principle of selection applies in the breeding of stock. The authority 
-hich I have just quoted declares : “ In carrying out this system in the improvement 
f wheats, I adopt nearly the same rules and laws that govern stock men in breeding 
i-and-in. The pedigree system does not in any way create new varieties ; it only 
nproves, making two blades, as well as two grains, grow where but a poor individual 
rew before.” 
But, before I touch upon the subject of breeding dairy stock, let me illustrate the 
nportance of the principle of adaptation—of adjusting means to ends. I will take 
le potato. It is important not only to select the best variety of potatoes, but to have 
xmd, healthy tubers of that variety, and to observe all the conditions required by 
ature. 
At the New York Experiment Station, during the past season, Dr. Sturtevant 
as been making experiments and observations to determine the character of the po- 
ito and the best method of preparing seed for planting. Though the experiments 
re nofcyet completed-»-and may not be for several years—the results thus far are very 
iteresting and instructive. They show that the potato wants a moist subsoil for the 
brous roots to feed in and a dry surface soil for the tubers to grow in. No matter 
ow deep the planting or how inuch the hilling, the tubers develop near the surface, 
hit the most striking discovery was in regard to the structure of the tuber, which is 
