REAL BASIS FOR IMPROVING CORN PLANT There nre Three Ways in Which Advancement Can be Secured and Careful Study is Urged.—By Edward M. East. Ever since plant breeding has been brought to the frontras a means of in creasing yields and producing new qualities, distinct from the mere feed ing of crops by means of fertilizers, we have been taught that by selection we could accomplish anything. Take the character length of ear as a concrete example, says Edward M. East in Rural New Yorker. Varia tions in length are seen in every field of corn, 110 matter what the variety. If we select the longest ears in suc cessive seaons we are taught that we shall continually improve the strain in this character. Even the teachers have always had an inward con sciousness that there must be a limit to the progress that could be made in this way, but the thought has been indefinite, and has been designedly kept in abeyance. The man who has been so indiscreet as to ask where the limit of his improvement is to be has been judiciously steered into other lines of thought. Some questions are hard to answer, and it was more in teresting to let him dream of the time he could fill an order for a bushel of corn with one lone ear. Likewise, we have been taught that by hybridizing two strains we could obtain any desired new character or quality if we only continued on the job for'a sufficient length of time. We N Samples of In-Bred and Cross-Bred Corn. have only made a beginning in breed ing as a science, and it will be many years before we can predict with the accuracy of a chemical reaction what will take place on crossing two individuals; but even now we know enough of the laws of variation and heredity to show us that this point of view is all wrong. The qual ity of the grist depends upon the grain in the hopper. There are three and only three ways in which plants can be improved, and a careful consideration of them shows the errors in both ol' the above teach ings. 1. Every plant is composed of a large number of characters, each of which is inherited as a unit. The basis and the plan by which these characters develop are held in the fer tilized egg from which the seed and finally the plant results. From the structure within this egg-cell, each character and through these charac ters, the entire organization is finally self-constructed by the utilization of food materials from the soil and from the air. No permanent variation oc curs in a plant unless it occurs first in the structure of these reproductive cells. Such variations are, therefore, the only foundation for plant improve ment, and the sole function of selec tion is to pick out the most desirable of them for propagation. Unfortu nately for the ease of the task, varia tions due to nutrition and other causes, variations that affect the plant and not the reproductive cells are, therefore, not inherited, often obscure the rarer, inherited variations, and thereby cause much unnecessary and unavailing selective work. 2. The object of hybridization is to shuffle and recombine the unit charac ters of the parent plant. If we knew what all the results would be when these characters combine we could predict the percentage of the progeny of a cross that would contain certain definite combinations of characters. But we do not know enough concern ing the inheritance of these characters to make predictions. We simply know that we can only expect to combine the characters actually possessed by the parent. For example, resistance to the disease called watermelon wilt was found to be a single unit charac ter possessed by the first cousin of the watermelon, the citron. This qual ity was therefore combined with other desirable qualities possessed by the watermelon by hybridization. Here was definite basis upon which to work and by which tangible results could be obtained. But supposing no wilt-re sistant melon had been known, it would have been utterly futile to have tried to breed this character into the watermelon by selection. The water melon reproductive cell does not pos sess this character, and on this ac count there is no basis upon which to select. The kind of selectionist against whom we are speaking would begin by going into a field and tak ing seed from those plants that were the least affected by the disease, yet he would never obtain results because he would be selecting non-affected plants instead of resistant plants. 3. There is a third method by which p Blight and temporary improvement can probably be made, although some biologists are beginning to lose faith in it because the results scarcely pay for the trouble. This is the selec tion of fluctuations. Fluctuations are the variations that are not due to structural changes in the reproductive cells, but simply to nutrition. They are, therefore—strictly speaking—not inherited, but simply give temporary aid in the development of the next generation. For example, let us imag ine two corn plants having -exactly the same characters; one of these plants has grown on good soil and is well developed, while the other has grown on poorer 6oil and is weakly devel oped. The seed of the well-nurtured plant has more nutriment stored up in it, and the young seedling that it produces has a better start in life than has a seedling from the poorly nurtured plant. The actual charac ters inherited by the two plants are the same, but the seedlings from the poorly nurtured plant are handi capped, and are not so well able to utilize their food supply and produce a normal well-developed plant. This is also true of poorly-nourished ani mals. Let us apply these principles to corn breeding. Corn is a wind-pol linated plant, therefore when a change takes place in the reproductive cells | of any individual of a variety, It ia I quickly recomblned with different characters in other individuals. As these changes take place with some frequency, what we call a commer cial variety is actually a set of hybrids between individuals possess ing various characters. The real ef fect of selection is gradually to iso late a strain having characters that we desire, in so far as sucK charac ters have already been produced by nature. There is no question of our originating anything by this selection. If there are plants having undesirable characters we can reject them, pro vided there are plants that are with out these characters, but that is as far as we can go. In this mixture of types, the commercial variety, there are some strains that produce a greater variety than others. It is the aim of the line breeder to take out these types and discard those having less efficiency. For these reasons we can see how great is the importance of our original breeding plot. If the type desired has been included among the original plants it can be selected out and established as a variety, if it has been left out we can only wait for nature to produce such a type. And as nature is not prodigal in her new productions our chances are relative ly small. Enemies of Tomato Plants. Young tomato plants have one en emy that if left to do its work un checked will soon sap all the vitality from the plant. This is a tiny black beetle often wrongly called a fly. It does not trouble the plants while they are in the house, but as soon as set out of doors, even while they are in boxes before being transplanted to the open ground, the beetles appear in great numbers, and In a few days will work great havoc. Bug death is a simple but sure remedy. It should be sprinkled liberally upon the leaves. Tho plants should be carefully watched, for sometimes a second or third application may be necessary. The potato beetle is unother enemy that will probably appear if the to matoes are set near a potato field. For that reason care should be taken in selecting a location for them. Filling Ditches and Gullies. It Is not a good plan to plow bare soil in ditches and gullies which are not. wanted in fiedls. First fill them with brush, briars, straw, corn stalks and any kind of rubbish and then plow in the soil. The rubbish will not only catch and hold the soil plowed in, but it will catch and hold soil washed into the field from other sources. When the trash decays and the gullies become filled, these places will become level and the deepest and richest spots in the fields. Cultivate Potatoes Frequently. Potatoes are a quick growing crop, hence they require frequent cultiva tion for best growth and maturity. Three or four cultivations will keep the weeds down in a potato patch, but it requires six or eight cultivations to produce a good potato crop. Every I cultivation pays probably larger than I for any other cultivated crop. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1909. MASTER KEEPS MAID'S KISS. Apropos of Lord Northcote's nam# being mentioned as a probable succes sor to Earl Grey in Canada, his lord ship was once made curious use of while governor general of Australia. Strolling one night through an ave nue of somber trees to a friend's house to dinner, he was suddenly pounced upon by a maid servant, who kissed him effusively and pressed a little par cel into his hand. "Here's a sausage for you. I can't come out to-night, as master has company," she whispered, and as mysteriously disappeared. When he got to the house he found one of his servants loitering by the gate. "What are you doing there?" asked Lord Northcote. "I'm waiting for my sweetheart," the man stammered. "Where is she?" "In service here." "Ah, then, I am right. Here la a sausage from your sweetheart, and she wishes me to tell you that she cannot come out to-night, as her master has company." Seeing that the man looked nervous, he added, kindly: "She also gave me a kiss for you; but perhaps you would rather wait until you see her. Here is five shillings instead." HIS REASON. "Do you play golf for your nerves or for general exercise?" "I play for practical purposes. I find that it is necessary to spend most of my time on the links in order to find the people with whom I wish to talk business." Vacationing. Now pops the city girl afar, And shins to the top bough Of some tall tree and calls for help When first she meets a cow. No Bribery. The manager of a ship >ard a* sembled his men together in the time office and told them to vote in a cer tain election as they pleased. "In fact, I sha'n't tell you how I'm going to vote," he said; "but after It is all over, I shall have a barrel of beer brought into the yard—("Hear! Hear!" shouted the men)—but I sha n't tap it unless Mr. White gets in."—Penny Pictorial. Vacation Days. Old Father Time was ob&erved to be seeking seclusion. "You don't make yourself promi nent in the summer season," re marked the friend. "No," responded Father Time, with a shake of his head, "it is too dan gerous." "Dangerous?" "Yes, in summer so many people are trying to 'kill time.'" USELESS ADVICE. "I would advise you," said the doc tor, "to avoid drinking coffee.'' "I do," replied the patient. "I board." Heavenly. When perspiration pours and pours Adown each cheek and down each limb, How nice to be at the seashore Teaching some maiden how to swim. Why He Lost Out. Jack —I called on Miss Gotrox a few times last winter and tried to make love to her, but failed. Tom—Wouldn't she stand for it? Jack—Oh, she seemed to be willing enough, but 110 man can make love to a woman successfully when there Is a cuckoo clock in the parlor. Plenty of Holes. Gritty George (reading fashion mag azine)—l see, pard, dat ventilated shoes will be worn dis summer. Sandy Pikes Ventilated shoes? Shucks! I've been wearing dem all me life. Don't yer think dis pair I have on is ventilated enough?" A Palpable Mistake. "I overheard your husband say the other day that he was self-educated." "Yes, I know he claims to be self educated, but you ought to of saw him when I got him." HThe Kind You Have Always Bought, and which has been la use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of ■ - - and has been made under his per- Sonal supervision since its infancy* Allow no one to deceive you in this* All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just-as-good" are but Experiments that triilo with and endanger the health of m Infants and Children—Experience against Experiment. ralwj Promo (esDigcstionOmfi What fs CASTORIA Hil nessandßestContalnsneittrr _ , , 35° ( Opium.Morphine norMinaaL Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Fare* Bill: NOT NARCOTIC. goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It ||tlji|j|! contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic rffa . &apta/OldDcSMUZfiiuam substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms {jjrjtji flnpkia Sad- and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind tonKi; jSMnMrfJ- Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation jtmeSud* and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the JZWfrt*- ' Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep* '«I I^c^ren ' B Fanacea—The Mother's Friend. ■lk® Aperfect RemedyforCrmsfipa- GENUINE QR | A ALWAYS tion, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea wriw B WB u " -zn'x Worms.Convulsioiis.Feverish Bears the Signature of ness and LOSS OFSLEEP. —nrawi 1 ami fl|§l| § FarSiimle Signamre_QT fJ* /?1 ill The Kind You Have Always Bought ■ fcn.-iranteecj, under the u \J | n y se F o r Over 30 Years Exact Copy of Wrapper. TM> OKNTAUR COMPANY, TT HURRAY STRCCT. NCV* TOUR CITV. CALLING DOWN THE BOASTER Good Little Story Told by William Dean Howells as a Rebuke to Spread-Eagleism. "It was William Dean Howells," said a Chicago editor, "who first re buked us Americans for our spread eagleism, for our foolish boasting. I see that Mr. Howells has just joined a men's society for the promotion of woman suffrage. Trust him to be in the forefront always. "I once heard Mr. Howells deliver a fourth of July oration in Maine. The orator preceding him had boasted a good deal. Mr. Howells showed that some of the man's boasts were even impious. "He said that these spread-eagle boasters deserved the rebuke that the little child administered to the cack ling hen that had just laid an egg. The child, angered by the hen's con tinuous cawk-cawk-cawk, cawk-cawk cawk-cawk, shook his little finger at ner and said: "'You fink you're smart. But Dod made dat egg. You touldn't help but lay it!'" SKIN ERUPTION CURED. Was So Sore, Irritating and PalnfUl That Little Sufferer Could Not Sleep —Scratched Constantly. Cuticura's Efficacy ._Qlearly Proven. "When about two and a half years old my daughter broke out on her hips and the upper parts of her legs with a rery irritating and painful eruption. It began in October; the first I noticed was a little red surface and a constant desire on her part to scratch her limbs. She could not sleep and the eruptions got sore, and yellow water came out of them. I had two doctors treat her, but she grew worse under their treat ment. Then I bought the Cuticura Remedies and only used them two weeks when she was entirely well. This was in February. She has never had another rough place on her skin, and she is now fourteen, years old. Mrs. R. R. Whitaker, Winchester, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1908." Potter Drug a Cbom. Corp., Sole Prop*., Boston. He Bit. The city man was Jogging onto- , ward the summer boarding-house in a rickety old wagon. The driver was glum and far from entertaining, and the city man felt rather lonely. "Fine field over there," he ventured, after a long silence. "Fine," grunted the driver. "Who owns it?" "Old man Bitt." "Old man Bitt, eh? Who are those j children stacking up hay?" "Old man Bitt's boys." "And what is his idea in having 1 Them out there in the field such a hot ; day?" "Wal, I reckon he thinks every lit tle Bitt helps, stranger. Anything else you vant to know? Get up here, hosses." Pathos in a Fire Report. In the annual report of the fire mar shal of Kentucky the following extract is not without a suggestion of "Little Boy Blue:" "Among the odds and ends of the attic, usually are vanished furniture, rags smeared with grease to take fire themselves, painting oils liable to take fire when the sun beats on the roof, and broken toys of children who are grown and gone away, or who went to sleep long ago." Best Clubs for a Youth. They tell a story in Wall street that Mr. Morgan once replied to a young friend, who hsd asked him I what were the best clubs to belong to ' in New York. "Young man, the very best clubs to devote your time to are Indian clubs." WHY, OF COURSE. "Farmer, which of those cows of yours gives the buttermilk?" "None of 'em. The goat" His Preference. Commander Maxwell of the navy enjoys telling of an unique complaint preferred by a recruit. On every man-of-war the bar of Justice is aft in front of the "stick," or mast. The recruit had gone to the stick to"state" b/s grievance. "Well, what do you want?" asked the executive officer. "Please, sir, I want to complain of the breakfast this morning." "What did you have?" "Burgoo, crack-hash, hard tack and coffee, sir." "What did you expect?" "Please, sir, I always like to start my breakfast with a nice steak and a pair of eggs." lllustrated Sunday Magazine. Neatly Put. Two Quakers were having an ar gument and one considered the other was speaking falsely. This is how he reproved him: "Friend Thomas. I will not call thee by any bad name, but if the mayor were to ask me who was the greatest liar in the town I would hasten to thee and say: 'Thomas, I think the mayor e-reatly desireth to speak with th««. His Need. "What you require," said Knowit all, "is a thrifty, economical wife." "Why?" asked his friend blankly. "Because you're a poor young man," was the answer. "You're wrong. What I need is a wealthy, liberal wife." It is a mother's duty to keep constantly on hand gome reliable remedy for use in case of sudden accident or mishap to the children. Hamlins Wizard Oil can be depended upon for just such emergencies. Some men never think of earning an honest living until they accident ally get a good, hard Jolt in the right spot. Mr*. Wln»low'« Soothing Syrnp. For children teething, softens the guns, reduces ln flammaUon, allays pain, cures wind colic, isc a bottle. He who honestly seeks to save an other finds himself. OF W ASTHMA & HAY FEVER jrfSK. yOi/K. DRUGGIST FOR. /T. \ tmt fW mi SAMAI mWTIUP A UTHA* CO. UifJkLO. W. N. U.. CLEVELAND. NO. 31-190*. A Tonic For The Wholo Family This splendid tonic will keep every member of your family in good health. Adults suffer ing from dyspepsia, or indi gestion, general exhaustion or breakdown will find in this natural tonic renewed health and strength. Delicate, rapid ly growing children will find in this tonic tho assistanco their digestive organs need to get the proper nourishment and strength from their food. DR. D.JAYNE'S TONICVERMIFUGE acts directly on tho stomach and other digestive organs, toning them up and enabling them to do their work properly. In this way it brings about permanent health and. strength. On the other hand, ordinary tonics, which give ar tificial strength by stimulation and by supply ing food material, are only effective as long aa they are taken. Sold by Jilt DrujxltM-1 Mixes, aoc. and 3Sc. Take Dr. D. Jay no's lifMttrul If you want to get rid of your < Cough or Cold. SICK HEADACHE I IJ* . I Positively cared b* CARTERS th ~ e li "»- 1 ijL ' WI IW They .i u rellrra Dl*> SPITTLE tress from Dyspepsia, fl I Wr-V% digestion and Too Hearty PI I VLK Eating. A perfect is» ■■ Bin m edy for Dlsilness, Ni» k9 r I LLP. sea, Drowsiness, Bat §3 ot, Taste In the Mouth, Goat* ed Tongue, Pain In the 25S5SS5S I Side, TORPID LIVKB, They regulate the Bowels. Purely Vegetables SMALL PILL. SMALL DOSE. SMALL PRICE— PADTEDcI Genuine Must Bear ■iIH."T Fac-Simile Signature ■hTTIE _ " FPILL?. M REFUSE SUBSTITUTES* Biliousness "I have used your valuable Cascaret® and I find them perfect. Couldn't' do without them. I have used them ta± some time for indigestion and biliousnes® and am now completely cured. Recom mend them to everyone. Once tried, yoo will never be without them in th«» family."—Edward A. Marx, Albany, N. Y« Pleasant, Palatable, Potent. Taste Good- Do Good. Never Sicken, Weaken or Gripe.. 10c, 25c, 50c. Never sold In bulk. The ffeo-- uine tablet stamped CC C. Guaranteed to cure or your money back. 929 112) ■ TCIITP Watsosß.Coleman,Wash~ P AT E NTS 7
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers