STRIKING DIFFERENCES IN CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1020, 9 January 1911, Page 8

STRIKING DIFFERENCES IN CROPS.

THE SELECTION OF. SEED. Frequently people interested in farming comment on tlio fact that they have seen crops sicto by side, with only a 'fence .dividing, and yet one is a crop worth being proud of, while tho other is:a failure. .' On this point the "Breeders' Gazette'' .(Chicago) says: "It'is not generally realised that .tho., striking differences frequently observed in - the yields of adjoining fields are sometimes duo almost entirely to the selection of varieties and of seed. An instance of progress ithrough plant breeding is found in tho yields of ryo obtained by the Minnesota Experiment Station.. . "Beginning fourteen years ago with a •sample of rye of no extra .merit, the ' process , was followed' of. selecting,, tlio hardy plants .and carefully eliminating 'tho. poor-yielding ones. Tho ryo responded quickly to selection in this way and - now. the selected . rye withstands winters .better than the unimproved stock, -. and tho yield has been greatly increased. . "The P season, tlio improved seed yielded 27.2 bushels per aero' as cornpaired with 17.7 bushels from tlie,ordinary rye grown under similar condi- .. tions. \ This method' of selection may be easily practised by any farmer with • a small .seed plot. All ,of the small grains respond, readily to such simple means of improvement."