The new South-news., 1909-05-22


the ray of mo|iing bic character,
forming lis mind ana shaping his
fuure 1850. a few Illustrations, II
fo,rr fo mr. wiii rh0w that a similar
change may hs produced iu plants
fhtm.slYc ln fact. o great dibtlnc-
fion llr long been recognized be-
tween via nni cultivated plants. II
.a matter 0f universal experience
thrt undcl cultivation plants change
thrir character
Dal fmarkalle illustration Of this
fact is ihe sugar beet. In the Wild or
ureuiilglfod state tho sugar beet IL
Indigenous TO fautheru Europe, Ca
rrcaiiy along iia Mediterranean
coasts uudcf cultivation u has been
converted from plant containing
only thfoo or four per cent. ~ sugar
40 one which contains from twelve 70
sixteen per cent
ThH tns made o. possible 10 utilize
The beet for fhc production OF sugar
to such an extent that tho amount Of
sugar which 30 now produced from
tho hoct IS equal 10 that which IS pro-
ducnd from the sugar cane
The factors which are active IN the
production OF changes in plants are
foli. sunshine. rainfall, cultivation.
fertilization and selection. II Is
through tho scientific use OF these
factors that man produces the modi-
ncallons he desires upon plants.
whothcr tboy be for the production
of foods or drugs. In regard 10 the
matter of drugs. Il is interesting TO
know that comparatively little has
been accomplished IN the way Of
modifying the medicinal properties OF
plants b. uaa OF the factors above
mentioned Nearly all our medicinal
drugs OF vegetable origin are derived
from the Wild or practically Wild
plant. n has only been Of late years
that the possibility Of improving the
medicinal composition OF plants by
human agencies has been realized.
a dug OF very high potency. which
possesses violently poisonous proper
ties In fact, II hydrocyanic or prusaic
acid. This acid naturally exists In
many plants. notably in the kernels
OF peaches. aprlcotp and fruits OF that
description. and In the root of the
plant known as the cassaya. Cassava
~ a source OF large quantities of
starch. and especially of that food
product which is 90 highly priced,
known as tapioca.
II Is important that the plants Hc-
looted fo- the manufacture OF tapioca
be free from hydrocyanic acid. or as
nearly go as possible. II has been
observed that by pushing the cultiva-
tlon OF the caaaava plant northward
Just as far aa it can grow and have
q sufficiently long summer 60 produce
maturity, tac quantity OF hydrocyanIo
acid Is diminished
within the past two or three years
systematic Investigations have been
made toward the selection OF cassaya
plants OF low content OF hydrocyanic
acid FOR the purpose OF planting. and
securing by selection plants contain
ing less quantities OK this undesirable
medicinal substance. Extensive ex-
periments looking TO this end have
been made In Southern Mississippi
and in Florida
ilcrcd,ty IN Plants.
u is well known principle that
qualities In plants. as in animals. are
largely hereditary. This is the key
note OF what Is known as selection
in the Improvement OF plants. BY
chemical analysis those plants are Sc
lccted which nave TIE largest uuanti-
ties of the desirable constituents or
the smallest quantities of undesirable
constituents, and these plants are
used for the propagation of others.
one OF the earliest aud most extensive
experiments of this Kind was con-
Quoted under my supervision. in col
laboration with the late MIR. A. A.
Denton. in the Improvement of the
sorghum plant.
A series OF experiments was con-
Quoted extending over eight years
with the idea OF increasing the con.
tent OF sugar In sorghum for the pur.
pose OF securing plant which would
be suitable for the manufacture OF
sugar. In this experimental work
there was selected by analysis this
best typical cane. that Is, the can,
containing the largest quantities O
sugar. and by comparison. the smal
est quantities OF undesirable qualities
and the seeds OF this cane were uses
for the work
In regard TO plants which nroduc'
drugs. it has been noticed that whei
they are brought from their natiy'
environment and planted In green
houses. tho quantity of the drui
which they produce Is usually dimin
ishcd. Tho cinchona tree In captivit
does not by any means produce m
quantity OF Quinlne which Is found il
&C ia rs native forests. On the otho
hand. other constituents OF plant.
whether desirable or undesirable. ma
be Increased In quantity under sue
conditions
The improvement Of plants of Al
kinds by the means which are in IN
hands OF the scientific worker IA
become a very important part OF agrl
....f...-I.t Ttl. 80.