Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1909-11-05
10 @ q 0 :.

FIG. xIH-GooD AND BAD TYPES OF sEE1
! WHEAT
Mote the shriveled shrunken condition
Of the kernels to the right
1 enough Some Of the largest grains
are shriveled and light in weight.
The only way to separate these is to
use plenty of wind in the tanning
mill so as to blow them over Such
grains are all right for feed. but are
entirely out Of place in the seed bin.
This method Of selection is especially
important in the case of wheat, as it
separates the hard from the soft
grains to some extent. since the soft
ones are lighter. Hardness is an i'm
portant factor to look after, since a
hard wheat is much more valuable
for milling purposes, making a larger
amount of high grade flour.
If the most value is to be obtained
from the selection of seed some def
mite plan of improvement must be fol
lowed. BY a little care a variety Of
wheat or oats may be so bred up as to
increase the yield from ten to twenty
bushels per acre. The work is a small
item as compared with the benefits.
In starting the work of breeding the
variety which does best in your par
ticular locality should be selected Go
into the field just before harvest time
and select forty or fifty Of the best
heads. In doing this the size and
plumpness Of the grain and the length
Of the head should be considered. This
latter point has a great deal to do
with the yield. since a long head often
shorter one. The character Of the
straw Is also important 1t should be
Itraight and strong. with no tendency
o rust, as a weak straw or one that IS
Dadly rusted cannot hold up a heavy
lead of grain. Another point to notice
5 the stooline-that is. the number of
talks that grow up from one seed.
When the required number Of such
eads have been found they should be
ut away in n dry place until spring.
7hen they should be thrashed out sep
rately and planted In a little plot in
ne garden. The seed from each head
hould be sOwn in a row by itself
he rows should be about four inches
part and the plants the same dis
lnce apart in the row.
AS harvest time comes on a great
ference in these rows will be no.
ced. Some will be badly affected
18th rust. Some viii have weak straw
I'd VIII go down badly Some will
I've short heads containing but a few
aims each. A few of the rows will
ntain plants and heads of the type
u are looking for. Select the best
ads from these rows to plant in next /
ar's plot
The second year, IF the first years p
lection was properly carried on, con- Il
lerable Improvement will be Observ- b,
This year the seed from each Of IA
2 strongest rows should be saved in T
TX after sorting out any heads that ca
= not of the required type. The seed hi
Im each Of these rows is to be plant be
in a little plot by itself the follow nc
, spring. to
Votes on these plots regarding the sh
ength OF straw, amount OF Stooling liz
! resistance to rust should be care as
ly kept The main point to be con- 70
cred, however. is the yield. The ne
in from each of the plots should
weighed and the preference given de
the heaviest yielders. Seed from mi
. or six of the best producing plots on
Y then be saved for larger plots the tai
nth year. The yield Of these, to- mo
her with the quality of grain and cal
myth Of straw, viii de,ermine "
Ich strain is to be selected for field Tx
factor which often cuts of as az
n as 10 per cent from the yield of Gro
III grain is smut Unlike rust, the fro
tment of this disease comes more bre
er the bead OF preparation Of the vie
than that Of selection. 1t may be no,