THE MAKING AND IMPROVEMENT OF WHEATS. 
In the present state of the business side of wheat-growing, farmers 
have no encouragement to grow the highest class of wheat, hence he 
erows varieties which give him the greatest number of bushels per acre, 
irrespective of quality. When wheat is bought according to its strength 
7 and proteid quality and serene, keener interest will be taken in the 
higher-class varieties. 1 believe the Department of Agriculture would 
| encourage farmers who take a real interest in establishing prolific 
\ strains of high and gluten-content strong wheats, by milling them in the 
test mill, and report on their quality. 
Ch ange of Seed. 
The idea that a change of seed is necessary is probably due to the 
fact that vegetables, and other plants pollinated .by the wind or insect 
borne pollen, in course of time deteriorate by continuous cross-fertiliza- 
Is tion within the variety, or by being cross-fertilized by pollen of other 
varieties, or by varieties of another species of the same genera. 
In the two latter instances, the variation in the progeny will be 
noticeable, and the work of fixation must be carried out to establish the 
new types formed. In the first instance, the continuous inbreeding 
b within the variety seems to devitalize the stamina, just as unregulated, 
incestuous breeding among animals does; still, when this incestuous breed- 
ing is carried out by a master mind on definite and systematic lines, 
good results are obtained; but they are artificial and need an artificial 
| management, or retrograde results will soon be in evidence. Eyen when 
incestuous breeding is carried out for a lengthened period, sterility 
ultimately results, or the stamina is impaired to such an extent that 
} the results amount to the same thing. To some extent, this occurs 
among self-fertilized plants. The pollen becomes deficient in quantity 
and vitality, and florets open to seek for wind-borne pollen, and if not 
fertilized by it, die out. 
3 Hn passant, I may ‘mention, as a matter of interest, that, on a few 
rare occasions, I have found what may be termed violent crosses sd 
deficient in pollen that the variety has died out. This, of course, is 
quite a distinct phase of the subject under notice. 
Returning to the effect of a change of seed in regard to wheat, it 
will be apparent that, as self-fertilization takes place wherever the plant 
may be grown, and that merely changing the environment does not alter 
the natural procreation of the variety, it follows that no object is gained 
by a change of seed in respect to this inherent quality. Any improve- 
ment, then, that may occur is likely due to better food supplies to the 
plant, greater care taken to keep the seed selected and graded, or better 
climatic conditions to suit the variety. 
= 
Modern Varieties are Artificial Productions. 
Another view of looking at the subject is that the modern wheats 
are man-made productions, just as the modern breeds of sheep are. They 
are artificial creations made for specific purposes, and can only be kept 
true to the type decided on by selection, suitable food, and living in an 
environment conducive to it. We know that if a flock of: perfectly 
woolled sheep is taken from one climate to another quite distinct, the 
nature of the wool changes. It may become more like hair in spite of 
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