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
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Bill: NOT NARCOTIC. goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It
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{jjrjtji flnpkia Sad- and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
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jtmeSud* and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the
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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
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7