The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1909-05-14
10 @ 9 @

FIG xII-GOOD AND BAD TYPES OF SEED
WHEAT.
Mote the shrfveled, 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 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 larger
amount of high grade -four.
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 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
nf tho hood Chn,,1A ho This
latter point has a great deal to do
with the yield, since long head often
contains twice as much grain as a
shorter one The character of the
straw is also important 1t should be
straight and strong, with no tendency
to rust, as a weak straw or one that is
badly rusted cannot hold up heavy
head Of grain. Another point to notice
10 the stoollng-that is, the number of
stalks that grow up from one seed.
When the required number of such
heads have been found they should be
put away in a dry place until spring,
when they should be thrashed out sep
arately and planted in a little plot in
the garden. The seed from each head
s'sould be sown in a row by itself.
The rows should be about four inches
apart end the plants the same dis
lance al Nrt in the row.
AS harry ,~st time comes on great
difference in these rows will be no.
ticed. Some will be badly affected
with rust Son e will have weak straw
and will 90 do vn badly. Some will
have short heads containing but few
grains each. few Of the rows will
contain plants and heads Of the type
you are looking fer. Select the pest
heads from these rowa-to plant IN next
years plot.
The second year, If the nrst years
selection was properly carrie,N on COLI
siderable improvement will be ,VserV-
ed. This year the seed from eac" OF
the strongest rows should be saved ~
bulk after sorting out any heads that
are not of the required type. The seed
from each Of these rows is to be plant
ed in little plot by itself the follow
Ing spring.
Notes on these plots regarding the
SNASAeeA VI StIdW, dWOuhI Va SSo~-o
and resistai ice to rust should be care
FULLY kept. The main point to be con-
sidered, hs ,wever, is the yield. The
grain from each Of the plots should
be weighs and the preference given
% the he aviest yielders. Seed from
i've or sa of the best producing plots
nay then be saved for larger plots the
'ourth - Ear. The yield Of these, to-
,ether with the quality Of grain and
treng Al Of straw, will determine
which strain Is to be selected for field
lse.
A hctor which often cuts off as
nucf i, as 10 per cent from the yield Of
NAL grain is smut. Unlike rust, the
rea' hslent Of this disease comes more
md D. the head Of preparation Of the
ee ktA an that Of selection. 1t may be