Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-12-24

bring about intense variation 10
composite crossing. new and prolific
tvpes are possible. and BY selection
OF desirable types we can tx them
permanently after several years OF
selection.
METHODS OF COM
POSlTE CROSSING.
AS an example Of the method OF
procedure in composite crossing let
us take eight varieties Of oats for
instance-the Swedish Select and
Black Tartarian as the first pair
suitable for mating. Let us add to
these Banner and White Tartarian
as second pair. A third pair
might be made up from the Yellow
Side oats and the Yellow Kherson
and fourth pair from Sixtv-dav
oats and Clvdesdale oats. Mating
these in pairs we have the second
season four varieteies Of oats instead
of the eight original varieties. The
third season mating these again IN
pairs. we have the two varieties In:
stead of four. The fourth season.
mating the two pairs that are left.
again we have one progeny that COM
bines the blood of eight varieties.
Can you conceive Of the upset plans
of nature that gives US opportunity
to witness thousand new and dis
tinct tvpes from which we can select
to please or fancy? IN.
At Acton Grange in England
about twenty years ago. we collected
from all over the world all the avail
able varieties of cultivated and wild
types of farm grains and grasses.
Taking oats as an example. about
100 varieties were received. 1nclud-
ing 20 British, 10 German, 10
Russian. 6 Hungarian. 6 Greek. 8
Italian. 6 Australian. IA North
American and Chinese. There
were also obtainable number of
specimens of wild oats. OF which
there are ccunterparts to most OF
our cultivated varieties. including
wild side oats. wild black oats. a
wild white oats. wild yellow oats
and wild tawny oats. The progeny
resulting from the mating of var1e-
ties cultivated in England show
differences in the, relative length of
straw and WELD of grain in the
period of ripening. in the thickness
of skin or husk. in the color and
shape.' in hardnessssin enabling them
to resist frost. mildews and blights.
and in other characteristics. 1t is
therefore not to be wondered at that
cultivated varieties from such widely
different climates as those OF the
countries mentioned; would yield
most striking variation. The wild
species which have never been tam
pered with have proved to be even
more valuable plants for cross-breed-
ing. as they tend to arouse sDortive
element to an exceptional degree.
Among the wild types made use of
NAV be mentioned the English wild
oats. This has been utilized because
of it's STRENGTH of straw and hard
ness. This hardy feature has been
introduced into new breeds of winter
or fall oats. the first of which will
shortly . be placed in growers
hands. Among the oats sent from
China. was strong growing oat
grass which possesses Deculiaritv
not shown bv anv other oat. The
ordinary oats in cultivation some-
times produce onlv one grain in
spikelet. and verv rarely as MANY as
three. The Chinese oats grass. how
ever. produces group of five grains
in each spikelet. and. moreover. is
peculiar in that it is practically
hul]ess. After considerable difficulty
this naked oat was incorporated by
means of COMPOSITE crossing with
ordinary breeds Of oats. New breeds
possessing most novel features have
been produced bv such cross breeding
and thev show very clearly how great
NAV be the increase and how wide
thedivergence effected bv this means.
For instance. instead of three grains
in spikelet and heavy husk. the in
fusion of Chinese oats. after COM
posite crossing. has brought about
tvDes that possess as many as
twenty-one grains In sDikelet and
show remarkable thinness of husk.
as we'll as manv other striking
ueculiarities. The infusion of wild
oats has brought about the acquiring
of hardness and Stiffness of straw.
rust resistance. with increased yield.
You should always remember that