The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-15
BROWN Bros, 614, 616, 618 and $40 Main ST

ton n. waite of the United States division
OF vegetable pathology was 1904 gramncs.
The average weight of Bartlett pears pro-
duced by fertilizlng With pollen from the
Faster WIS 1917 gramines, or m Increase
OF q 3 grammcF.
Another point. AMI we Will dlsm.sa tho
subject of crossing. 1t is obvious that
though croahing has tendency TO Increase
the viRor and fertility OF plants, " we
continue crossing back on TO the same va
rlety the second part of tho first cross will
be absorbed In few generations, And
nguin We Know That crossing ia constantly
taking place through the agency OF the
wind and INSECTS A Knowledge Of these
two facts admits Il probable explanation Of
the frequent observation That Imported
seed wear OUT or get to be - better
than the common sorts" The Imported
variety is repeatedly crossed with IN. VA
rictits growing IN nelGhborlpg fields md
as result loses It's type by blending with
the surrounding aorts. And now. with
these three fucts before MS and others that
win he mentioned later may II not be adj
vIsable 10 change seed every few years or
better get seed OF the same variety from
another section and plant In alternate rows
with the home grown seed.
OF LIBERALIZATION VIC viii speak briefly. II
differs from crossing In that we select
two dstirc, species instead OF two yaric-
ties belonging to the same species. II II
lcss frequently possible than crossing and
the product Will In general be wholly or
partially sterile. This storility can FREE
quentiy he overcome by cultivation. The
loss IN fertility ard In genral will b. com
pcnsatcd by gain In size and constitutional
vigor.
Crossing rs not to be looked upon as a
way of originating new stable varieties.
Crossing induces variability, culture and
selection must do the rest If we with to
perpctuate or keep true certain type
we must select seed from Individual plants
that have the type II we wish To origin
ate q new typo, select seed from those in-
dlviduai specimens that approach nearest
to our ideals These are the processes 10
be followed by all whose income Is meas
ured by the yield OF plants. Their import
ance Is too often unappfcciated. FROM
each generation we select Tor seed for the
succeeding crop the product of those speci-
m.ns that come nearest TO our Ideals. II
Il DO field corn, we seek for ears having
long cobb. large. heavy. wen developed
grains, etc. would not advise doing this
IN the crib unless II is the only process
open. Go TO the field and eclect only from
those stalks that are hardy. etc.
In theory selection appears very simple.
but In practice II VIII ucfHhtu your ptst
Judgment Careful selection not only in
sures the maintenance OF our crops up to
the highest standard. but we can improve
the yield and texture and only by II can we
fix the characters gained by cross. These
points are generally conceded and II would
be superfuous to adduce any or the facts
that support them.
In-breoding consist IN fertillzing plant
with iis own pollen. II may be employed
TO fix a type, but Is generally accompanied
by loss OF yigor and increased sterility.
with plants these defects may not be-
come evident In the first or second genera
tons. but n continually Inbred the EVIL
effects follow and become evident, Just as
they do with man and other animals. a
great many plants are known to be self
sterile.
Tho most important comes last-culuya-
ton. Tho ultimate object OF cultiyating
plants Is TO increase their food supply
which produces a corresponding increase
In plant substance. All agriculture Is based
on this principle. II nothing was gained
by cultivation there would be no incentive
10 labor High cultivation is another
cause OF variation and has been the strong
est factor In tho amehoraticn Of domestic
plants The ways In which this Increased
nutrition is brought about are well known
and need not be discussed here. The only