Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-03-27
10 G 8 9

FIG. xIn-aooD AND BAD TYPES OF SEED
Mote the shriveled, shrunken condition
of the kernels to the right
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 1t
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
hard wheat is much more valuable
for milling purposes, making a larger
amount Of high grade -four.
II 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 DC
with the yield, since long head often
contains twice as much grain as
shorter one. The character OF tbs
straw is also important. 1t should be
straight and strong, with no tendency
to rust, as weak straw or one that II
badly rusted cannot hold up heavy
head of grain. Another point to notice
is the stooling-that is, the number O.
stalks that grow up from one seed.
When the required number Of sucl
heads have been found they should b.
put away In a dry place until spring
when they should be thrashed out sep
arately and planted In a little plot II
the garden. The seed from each hea'
should be sown In row by Itself
The rows should be about four inche
apart and the plants the same dis
lance apart in the row.
AS harvest time comes on a grea
difference In these rows will be nc
ticed. Some will be badly affecte
with rust. Some will have weak stray
and will go down badly. Some wi
have short heads containing but fe'
grains each. A few Of the rows wi
contain plants and heads Of the tyr
YOU ere looking for. Select the bes
heads from these rows to plant In mel
years plot.
The second year, II the first year
selection was properly carried on, col
siderable improvement will be obser'
ed. This year the seed from each
the strongest rows should be saved
bulk after sorting out any heads th'
are not Of the required type. The see
from each Of these rows is to be plan
ed In a little plot by itself the follo'
ing spring.
Notes ON these plots regarding Il
strength Of straw, amount Of stooliI
and resistance to rust should be car
fully kept The main point to be CO
sidered, however. is the yield. II
grain from each Of the plots shou
be weighed and the preference Civ
to the heaviest yielders. Seed fro
five or six of the best producing Flo
may then be saved for larger plots {
fourth year The yield Of these,
gether with the quality Of grain al
strength Of straw, Will determf
which strain is to be selected for d.
use.
A factor which often cuts OF
much as 10 per cent from the yield
small grain is smut. Unlike rust,
treatment Of this disease comes me
under the head of preparation or
seed than that of ssiactton. 1t may