Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1909-04-27
SELECTION AND BREEDING OF PLANTS.
Some Detailed Information That Should
Interest Progressive Farmers and Gardeners

Perhaps there is no one subjec
related to farming that is of great
er Importance to the farmer thar
the Improvement of his genera
crop by seed selection and breed
ing. The work is not only intense
lily interesting but it usually results
in awkeuing a keener interest in
all phases of crop production, in
cluding the preparation of the soil
for the seed bed, the cultivation
of the growing plant, fertilization,
and even the marketing of the
products. As a rule it costs no
m re to cultivate crop grown
from good seed, from improved
varieties, than it does to cultivate
crop that will produce scrub
plants. The orlg'nators and
growers of improved varities not
only have the satisfaction of hav-
ing made the growing of these
crops more profitable by reason
Of improved quality and increased
yields, thus benefting every one
interested in their production and
consumption but they usually also
reap an additional financial re-
ward from the sales of the seed or
plants of their improved varities.
Higher priced lands call for
larger yields of better quality In
order to make interest on the
money invested. Furthermore
improved varities are stronger
constitutionally and are not 50
subject to effects Of disease. IL
fact some varities have been pro-
duced that are immune to certain
diseases. They simply have the
vigor to resist them.
The growing and distribution
of good varities is 4 far-reaching
factor in our national prosperity.
The breeder, therefore, becomes a
public benefactor as we'll as max
ing larger crops himself and reap
ing all increased re"enus resulting
from the higher l.Ssss which the
improved varities command upon
the market. He may thus attain
to prominence which otherwise he
would never have acquired. Good
farming helps to make good citi-
zens, and good citizens help in the
making of good farmers.
ART AND SCIENCE IN BREEDING.
The work of producing better
plants ls both an art and a science.
The science of breeding includes
the work Of the investigator in de-
termining by means of experiment
the principles relating to the
different problems of breeding
The work of the scientific investi.
gator may not in itself be profit.
able, yet it may result in valuable
additions to the knowledge of the
subject. The work of the investi.
gator is the discovery of the prin'
cipals of breeding. These the
practical breeder may not have
the training, the time, the optor'
tunity, or the means to discover
The art of breeding is the work Of
growers who by long experience
with the crop from a commercial
standpoint become accurate judges
of the value of plants for cultiva
tion and economic propagation
Often, also, it embraces the prin
Iciples discovered by the scientific
Investigator or breeder.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE BREEDER
Success N the Improvement o!
farm crops depends to great ex
tent on some important quallfica
tions of the breeder. He mus
have natural liking for his wori
and the plants which he is i'm
proving. The experience gained
by constant association with crop
with which the breeder is interest
ed is the most important facto
involved in the production of new
, or improved varities. 1t is thi
experience that makes it possibl
for the breeder to pick out th'
best plants almost intultively
although i'll many cases it is no
possible to give exact reasons fo
the selections. This accurate
Judgment comes easiest to thos
naturally adapted to the work
However, it may be acquired b.
any careful farmer who has rea
, interest in the subject by tn
r study of the plants from all pos
sible scources of knowledge.
ADAPTION TO ENVIRONMENT.