Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-12-26
The oriein Of Varieties.

The Origin Of Varieties.
Beginning at the beginning, we find
that the first specific interest in culti-
waited plants was in the gross kind OF
species, said Prof. L. H. Bailey in
an address to nurserymen- As
the contact with plants became
more intimate, various indefinite
form-groups were recognized within
the limits of the species. Gradual
ly, with the intensifying of domesti-
cation and cultivation, very par
ticular groups appeared and were
recognized. These smaller groups
came finally to be designated by
names, and the idea of the definite
homogeneous cultural variety came
into existence. The discrimination
was still further defined when it came
to be recognized that gratis and cut
lungs will perpetuate the characters
tics of given plants. The period OF
transition from seeding propagation
to graft propagation has been an Inn
portant one for every fruit tree. Such
transition marks the rise OF the
orange industry in Florida. The dis
pute about the necessity of grating
(or budding) the pecan is the begin
ming of similar transition period for
this period for all the common or
chard fruits.
The variety conception is really
late idea of the development of the
human race. 1t is practically only
within the past two centuries that
cultivated varieties OF plants have
been recognized as being worthy of
receiving designated names. 1t is
within this period, also, tnat most OF
the great breeds of animals have been
defined and separately named. All
this measures the increasing intimacy
| of our contact with domesticated
! plants and animals. 1t is record of
our progress. The people that are
most advanced in the cultivation of
| any plant are the ones that have the
| greatest number of named varieties OF
| that plant. In Japan, to this day, the
| plums often pass under ill-defned
| class names. We have introduced
these classes into this country. have
sorted out the particular forms that
promise to be OF value to us, and
have given them specific American
names. Not long ago native profes-
| sor in Japan wrote me for cions of
| these plums, in order that he might
introduce Japanese plums into Japan.
some extent by class names. What
| constitutes a variety is increasingly
more difficult to define, because we
| are constantly differentiating on small
er points. The growth of the variety
conception is the growth of the power
| of analysis.
| How Location Affects Grain.
At the Tennessee station a good
many varieties of wheat have been
tried and among them some that had
done very well on other soils and in
distant parts OF the country. Rela
tive to this Prof. Soule says:
Some varieties that have made pool
yields and cannot be regarded as oi
any value for culture in TENNESSEE
have q remarkably high protein con
tent for one or more years. In 190(
Rice wheat contained 21.12 per cent
of protein, the average for four years
being 17.2S. Blue Straw Fultz, Beecf
Woods Hybrid. Valley and Rural New
Yorker No. 6 all had between 16 and
II per cent of protein. Some Of these
varieties are regarded as poor fol
milling purposes and low in proteiI
in sections of the country where the,
are quite extensively grown, and thest
facts lead to the conclusion that eli
matte and soil conditions have q de
cided influence on the protein con
tent.
Muscovy Ducks.
From Farmers Review: AS I an
breeder of Muscovy ducks, my ex
perience in shipping has been limite,