Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-08

selsd, can be planted in the field This,
Of course, applies to corn, and no such
close manipulation can be worked with
other grains. but the same general
principles apply. The main point is to
AXE care that the selected strains of
corn, wheat oats or whatever else are
kept put and free rom the invasion of
roEers and that the strain is kept as
strong as possible by seed selection,
which includes the termination test.
An interesting development in corn
breeding which has been pursued by
Professor p. o. vanattar Of the Geor-
gia State College Of Agriculture, is that
which has to do with suckers or
stools" on corn. Instead OF discarding
corn with suckers" he has developed
and watched it, His conclusions are
that corn that suckers is the corn that
terminates strongest produces the big
gest yield, has the best slower, stands
strongest against winds; in fact is the
best corn. Breeders generally have over
looked this fact
Farmer Benefits From Science.
These and other important contri-
buttons are being constantly made TO
the aggregate Of knowledge of how to
enlarge the yields Of not only corn. but
other crops. 1t is a part which the
scientists and experimenter can do for
the benefit OF the farmer, giving the
farmer the fruits of his study in the
shape of increased harvests.
No field of agricultural work is
fraught with more fascination and
4, =. -,
without doubt, some marvellous dis
coveries will be made in the next few
years which VIII not only set botanists
agog, but will rejoice a whole world
that other discoveries have been made
whereby two stalks can be grown where
one has heretofore been grown.
The history of plant development
reads like romance, but back Of it, of
course, was long years of careful toll
that was unrOmantic enough. AS many
as 100 years ago plants that were extra
well developed we're taken from the
field and propagated carefully and were
gradually developed into varieties which
became broadly adopted instead Of old
varieties, because of their greater yield
ing power.
Reverted to Old Types.
While occasionally something was &C.
complished by such methods in after
years, in the main there was disap-
pointment, for the reason that the ex-
ceptional plants were hybrids and soon
reverted to original types. ..
In Germany and Sweden the investi-
gators began on the DHrwinian basis
and tried to improve by selecting a
number Of best plants. sowing them to-
gether and attempting to advance the
whole. 1t was known as mass selec-
ton Finally Dr. Hjalmar Nilsson, Of
Sweden, fell upon the single plant or
ear to-row as the basis for establishing
pure breeds and maintaining the purity.
Since then the ear or the single head has
been the basis Of all successful breed
ing
One Of the points emphasized in the
boys corn club work is seed selection.
What has been learned from these vari-
Gus seed breeding experiments the
world over the Government and the
educational authorities of the State
carry to the boys in practical, simple
form. The boys are told how to de-
termine the best seed.
Without planting strong seed, OF
course. the corn-club boy is not In the
race,
seed Selection Necessary.
Such as have been careless about
selecting good seed can never win,
though he have the richest land and
put On It all the fertilizer that can
possibly be used. Nothing can make
ap for the shortage inhertng in the