The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1902-09-18
Future of the Plains.

produced that will fatten cattle
for the block and consequently
make the business far more
profitable than heretofore, and
eliminate THE UNCERTAINTY OF
PROFITS that result from failure
of feed crops. We believe that
there are various sorts of highly
nutritious plants that will grow
on the Plains now but to satisfy
the SC optic we quote from the
Year Book 1901 to show that
such can be propigated if not in
existauce now:
'Those acquainted with the
achievements of bre elders of
pansies, chrysanthemums, and
violets cannot doubt that plants
are mobile in their characters,
and that from plain forms, un-
der the hand of a master in the
art of breeding flowers, most
beautiful colors and forms may
be evolved. If breeders of field
crops and animals can make as
pronounced improvements in the
growth, yields, and character OF
plants as have been made by
breeders of flowers, their wild
est dreams will have been real
lied. De Vries, of Holland, car
ried common red clover through
a process of breeding which has
resulted in increasing the leaflets
from three up to five and even
up to eight in some instances.
Carton Brothers, of England,
have hybridized various species
of forage grasses and made spe-
cies new to science, and their
work with oats, wheat, and 9th
er crops is quite wonderful.
"There is SO much in breeding
which is interesting and artistic,
and which shows on the eXteri-
or, sometimes indicative of in
trinsic qualities within, that the
the tendency is for breeders too
often to unduly emphasize the
form, and appearance rather
than the qualities of economic
value. Too often breeders have
assumed that appearances are
the qualities to, be desired;
Judges at shows have decided
too much on that basis, and pur-
chasers have followed the fash
ion, believing that exterior per-
lection meant comprehensive
excellence. Qualities which
are sought because they are
fashionable, like styles Of dress,
change with decree of fashion
makers, not only causing the
loss of stability, which comes
of long continued breeding to a
single type for a'single purpose,
but inducing men to breed for
and use that which looks we'll
rather than that which is truly
meritorious.
"Thc achievements in animal breed
ing include profound structural
changes, the full significance of which
is not generally recognized. The
trotting horse. has developed marvel
ously in his ability to trot. The Pc
culiar value of Messenger" the IA
Their OF the American troting breed,
becomes more and more emphasized,
and some OF his progeny are in Ike
manner distinguished among their
fellows as being prepotentint the pro-
duction Of fast trotters-
"Some experiment stations have
demonstrated the vast difference in
the ability of individual cows to pro-
dnce milk products cheaply from Il
given amount OF food. Some cows
do not pay their board; others pro-
duce values equal to two or three
times the cost of their food; while
such animals as the famous Jersey
sire, Stoke Pogis, Illustrate how an
occasional dairy animal has the
wonderfully important ability OF
impressing strong dairy quality on
all his or her progeny.
1.-The breeders OF poultry and pet
stock have best illustrated the great
changes which may be produced In
animals us we'll as in plants. Hunt