The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-02
wheat BREEDING
EXPERIMENTS OF ROBERT GAUSS
NEAR DENVER.
RESISTANCE TO DROUTH
Efforts Based on Theory Of Survival Of
the Fittest-SeIection of Seed From
Best Plants Raised on Dry Soil.

tBy Robert Gauss.)
Following are extracts from a paper
read before the American Breeders
Association at Lincoln. Nebraska:
in eastern Colorado the normal an
nual precipitation is about 1850
inches, from which there is but little
departure either north or south of the
state. About twothrds of this pre-
cipitation occurs between March LIST
and September lst, thus coming in the
growing season and at a time when it
can do the most good. Occasionally in
exceptionally favorable seasons like
tha- OF 1905 agriculture is pracLicabe
without irrigation. But upon such sea
sons little dependence can be placed,
and hence where irrigation is imprac-
ticable, farming must remain pre-
carious industry unless means be
found to adapt not physical conditions
to veSetatiOn-as through irrigation
but rather vegetation to physical con-
ditions through acclimtization Of de-
sirable species
1T was in the latter part of 1886 that
the idea first occurred to me that
practicable value to arid region agri-
culture along the lines just suggested.
1t found expression in an editorial in
the Denver Republican of November
q. 1885, entitled is There An Arid Re
sion.?' and in which the following sug-
gestion appeared:
There is, of course limit beyond
which We can not go in reducing the
n n CT al n
tation. But within the limits of rea-
son we may say that nature accommo-
dates each vegetable organism to the
conditions which surround it. We may
by sowing seeds in moist soil and by
keeping the sol! in moist condition,
deyelop in i few Years plant which
could not thrive Without a Great DIAL
of moisture; and we may with seeds
taken from the same plant as the
others, develop in the same time, by
| the contrary process, plant which
would require but little moisture.
"'It may be possible, therefore, by a
series of experiments extending
| through several years to develop va
riety of wheat or other grain which
would thrive on our highlands without,
| irrigation. Until 1t is proved that all
| admit that 1t Is an open question
whether this is or is not an arid re-,
gion.'
"I began my experiment in the
spring of 1896 with wheat of the va
riety known as improved Fife, which
was sent me from the agricultural col
broken that spring to depth of about
ipr ha
broadcast. The season was extremely
dry and | obtained only Il very smalfl
quantity of seed. 1t was sufficient,
howevel, for replanting as extensively,
as desired in the following season Of
1897 In the last named year adopted
the plan Of placing single grains at in
tervals of twelve inches each way
thus giving one plant to each square
foot. 1t was tedious process, but it
enabled me 10 select MY plants with
more care. Each year since then
have repeated this method of planting,
For several years | broke the ground
to depth of from fourteen to sixteen
inches, using for this purpose a sub
soil plough. | also caused the surface
of the soil to be broken with hoe,
thus producing a loose mulch for the
purpose of preventing evaporation.
subsequently | abandoned both these
methods, lest by the result attained
should deceive myself ] was con-
vnced that in practical farming few
men would subsoil their ground and
that none would be induced by any
promise Of bountifu crops TO keep the.
surface broken in order to prevent the
loss of moisture by evaporation. In
short, wished my wheat to be subject
to as adverse conditions as it would be
subjected to in practical farming, thus
assuring myself that whatever results
| might attain would at least not be de-
ceptive. In 1897 | enlarged my expert
ment by adding oats and beardleSs, or
stock-feeding barley. In 1898 | added
rye. and in 1903 planted for the first
time four varieties of durum wheat
and one soft wheat. known as Fretes.
sent me by Mr.. Carleton Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. The durum
wheats consisted of kubanka, Pelissier
and two kinds of Kahla. In the same
wear, 1903, ] added Turkestan alfalfa,
on the theory that should acclimatize
a lemuminous plant which in rotation
would restore the fertility of the soil.
In 1904 added Red Russian wheat,
the seel for which was obtained from
.ocan county, Colorado, on the plains.
and a variety of mailing barley called
saalc, the seed having been obtained
from Mr. Altenbrand of Manhattan.
Montana. who had imported the orig
inal seed from Germany. In addition
to the foregoing. my experiment IN
cludcs sugar beets. potatoes and held
peas, but in the case of these too little
time has elapsed TO determine whether
there is much promise of success.
Last spring planted most OF the
cereals in beds of twenty rows foot
apart ard 100 feet long. thus giving,
theoretically, 1000 plants, each occupy
ing the space of one square foot. This
is theoretical only, however, for at
leas, twenty per cent. Of the places are
as a rule unoccupied. My own
wheat was planted at the rate of one
plant to the square foot in rows 100
feet long but in this case there were.
eighty rows instead of twenty. The
ground was broken in the spring about
seven inches deep, but not subsoiled.
No fertilizing mater rial was used.
"The yield of each variety was as
follows: