The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-05-21

the maximum yields obtained every
year by our most enterprising farm
ers. The writer fully believes that
with the revolutionized scientific
methods of farming, with the great
ly improved varieties of cereals, our
average yields of the present day
will be doubled, yes, trebled, dur
ing the next twenty-five years.
An extensive corn grower of Ken
tucky writes: 81 have Cften said
that 1 would give 81, 900 for bushel
of my ideal corn. This corn would
root deeply, and stand severe drougts
we'll. Every stalk would produce a
fair good sized ear, that would con-
tain at least 90 per cent. of shelled
corn to 20 pounds of it's ears. It's
kernels would possess uniformly
high terminating power. There
would be no barren or lazy stalks in
it's product. It's ears weuld always
ripen evenly, and be entirely free
from smut and dry rot It's stalks
would stand strong against storms.
The period of its pollenatiOn would
be greatly extended. It's pollen
would be impervious to scorching hot
weather. It's grain would form a
we'll balanced ration for live stock.
Well might this Kentucky farmer
offer to give one thousand dollars
for such a bushel, Cif there were not
another bushel like it) of such vari,
ETY. of corn, worth ten times one
thousand dollars, to our great corn
belt. For in six years time it's in
crease would plant more than five
million acres. And during that time
it would have benefited farmers to
the extent of more than one billion
dollars, in increased revenue, due to
it's increased yields, and greatly
superior quality of grain.
1t is an indisputa BILE fact that the
laws of nature which govern pro-
gressiOn and retr0gressiOn, are as
potent in plant as in animal life, and
respond as fully in the one case as in
the other, to the progressive breed
er's art. In no instance has this
fact been more plainly demonstrated
than in the case of the elder Viii
morin, a plant breeder and seed
grower of Paris, France. By care
fully continued breeding during d
| series of years, he bred the original
undevelOped sugar beet from ances-
try carrying only about four per
cent. sugar content, up to more than
| twelve per cent, thus placing it on a
basis where profit could be derived
from it's manufacture into sugar.
Succeeding skilful plant breeders
| have continued the breeding pressure
begun by Mr.. VilmOrin, until about
eighteen per cent. sugar content has
been developed IN our sugar beets of
to-day.
A degree of perfection that will be
attained in the not far distant future,
by ingenious seed and plant breed
ers, in the continued mprOvement
of our cereals, vegetables and flow
ers, will cause the glad earth to pour
out her blessings in far greater
abundance in the way of maximum
yield, high quality, sweet Odor, etc,
than has ever yet been dreamed of
by our most progressive people.
During the past fifty years, enter
prising live stock breeders such "a
Booth and Bake veil, of England,
have so critically and ardently bred
the ShorthOrn cattle, that the dressed
carcass of Il ShOrthOrn to day weighs
more than twice as much as it did
fifty years ago. The same i'm prove
ment has been made in sheep, horses,
hogs, poultry, but the writer regrets
to have say that the same pro
gress has not been made in breed
ing the grain bearing plants.
The writer Cand other young cereal
breeders) is devoting life to cereal
breeding in all it's numerous phases +;
and 1 firmly believe that prior to the
year 1926 as the science of cereal
breeding becomes more thoroughly
understood and much more exten-
siyely practiced, and as the judicious
interchange of seed and plants be-
comes universally pracFiced, that
our increase in average yields of the
grain bearing plants will be almost
beyond belief.
j. G.. SUFFERN.
Platt Co., Ill.