Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-03

that has been originated within our recoliec-
ton. All have been produced from lew
kernels that have had some especially good
points to recommend them, and have been
cultivated with great care away from all
other kinds, so as to keep the
seed pure and unmixed. The inst
fact that has significance IN all
these new discoveries of new kinds
is that the original few grains as a rule have
been such that they attracted attention for
some supposed good quality. This is a con-
firmation of the old proverb that like pro-
duces like. But the more significant point in
this connection is the careful nursing the
newly-found grain has received. This con-
firms the well known proposition that careful
cultivation will improve the quality and
value of all varieties of the vegetable king
dom of which man has any knowledge, and
admonishes all wheat farmers that good Gull
tivation is one of the necessary conditions of
good crops of grain. Another point in the
history is the significant fact that the cultiva-
ton of all these new kinds has been apart
from tina other varieties of wheat, thus Civ
ing the one kind time to become fixed type
by inbreeding or continual crossing with its
own special type or kind. This last idea is
at least only suggestive, and it may be that
greater improvement of the wheat and
other cultivated plants. just at this time
the whole world seems to be greatly inter
estei in the discovery of some kind of wheat
that viii resist the rust fungus. Now,
while we would not discourage the practice of
changing seed between different localities and
countries as one OF the most likely means of
improvement generally, and of improvement
in this particular, we would suggest as a
more promising mode of improvement the
selection of heads of wheat from our fields
and cultivating the kernels by themselves in
the manner accidental new kinds have gen.
Ell ally been cultivated. Select, for instance,
single head that has ripened earlier than
fected by the rust that has blasted the sur
rounding heads, and plant it in the garden by
itself, and eiveit especial care for few years.
If the farmers generally would this year
select specimens of their best heads of grain
that have withstood not only the rust and
north winds, and ell other drawbacks, and
from them cultivate up some seed wheat
of their own, we have no doubt that within
three years time CaliforniA would become
distinguished for the superiority of her
wheat, and every farmer would be triumph
antly relating the history of his success in
producing the best kind of wheat in the
State. We make this suggestion right now
while the harvest is going on, and If the hint
is taken, and eli who read this suggestion
shall follow it, we shall expect that great
deal OF good may grow cut of it. How many
will be nursing new kinds of wheat in 1881
from selections made after this suggestion?
Let those who make the experiment name
the kind making, also the peculiar circum-
stances of the growth Of the sample selected,
and hereafter see how well the peculiar char
acteristics of the sample selected are main
tanned 10 the product that shall come from it.
In this special paius-taking manner of Guilt
walton, besides the actual improvement Of
the wheat crop that may be looked for, our
wheat-growers who enter into it will doubt
less increase their actual knowledge Of wheat
culture, which of itself would prove of great
general benefit.