The state herald., 1908-08-07
RECENERATED
BL0UNT wheat
CELEBRATED DEFIANCE WHEAT
BROUGHT BACK TO oRIGl-
NAL STANDARD.
1T HAD DETERIORATED
SEED APPROVED BY COLORADO
GRAIN AND SEED GROWERS
ASSOCIATION.

Prof. A. L. Blount. agriculturist and
plant breeder of the Colorado Expert
ment station from 1879 to 1891, OBJ
tanned from L. c. Pringle, in 1873. a
small sample of Defiance wheat which
Mr.. Pringle claimed to have originated.
From this foundation stock, Professor
Blount obtained large number of av-
erage heads, the largest of which were
not quite three inches in length, con
tanning an average of twenty-one ker-
nels each.
By following his rule, of selecting
the best to cross on the best to get a
better offspring Professor Blount,
in 1885. had heads five to six inches
long, each containing an average OF
forty-three kernels. From ninety-four
grains in 1856 he produced 3.15 pounds
Of superior quality wheat, from which
foundation stock he increased for dis
tribution to the wheat districts or
Colorado, under the irrigation ditch.
This became the dominant spring
wheat of Colorado early in the SOS,
millers finding flour made from this
wheat had a ready sale as superior bis
cult flour all through the South. BY
1903, through lack of seed selection,
careless methods of threshing, seed
ing and irrigating. as well as following
grain with grain. this Defiance wheat,
In many sections of the state, had be-
come seriously mixed.
Mr.. A. II. Danielson, assistant agri-
I culturist at Colorado Agricultural col
lege, In 1903. found a bottle Of the
foundation stock of Defiance left by
Professor Blount, when he left the
Colorado station In 1891. This wheat
was known to be at least twelve years
old. but was seeded. hoping to obtain
from this seed. plants to renew and
regenerate this spring wheat which
had given such excellent satisfaction
to miller, farmer and baker.
Three plants grew. one sending up
fourteen spikes This superior plant
was saved and the other two destroyed.
From this foundation plant of the 1908
harvest. the best quality heads and
most desirable kernels were saved and
each year planted. BY 1907 enough
wheat was gathered TO seed a scant
ten.acre field. This field yielded n
harvest OF $50 bushels OF good quality
wheat for distribution. BY use of a
seed grader we separated out the best
quality, most desirable wheat kernels
for seed purposes and found we had
800 bushels OF the regenerated Blounts
Defiance wheat for distribution TO
Colorado farmers. We sent this wheat
out In small lots varying from twenty
| five to one hundred pounds per farmer
in the spring of 1908.
This wheat has been approved by
+. Knorr, secretary OF the Colorado
Grain and Seed Growers Association
and been given registration number
as per following letter:
Il hereby affirm that a sample OF
the Regenerated Blounts Defiance
wheat has been submitted TO my In.
spection, ms prepared for distribution
to the wheat growers OF Colorado. |
am thoroughly familiar with the care.
ful manner In which this grain has
been developed and hereby assign
this grain No. ] on the registration
books OF the Colorado association.
All farmers receiving this wheat and
complying with the requirements Of
this association can maintain registra'
tion of this Wheat No. Blount's Re
generated Defiance, by each year
sending some OF that years harvest.
Those purchasing this grain can have
registered extension Of pedigree on ap.
proynl of pound sample Of the wheat.
together with record Of transfer from
party making last registration. on
payment OF fees"