. Beginners' botany. Botany. numbers of plants with more or less of the desired quali- ties ; from the best of these, he may again choose ; and so on until the race becomes greatly improved (Figs. 5, 6, 7). This process of continu- ously choosing the most suita- ble plants is known as selec- tion. A some- what similar process pro- ceeds in wild nature, and it is then known as natural se- lection. Fig. 6. — Flax Breeding. A is a plant grown for seed production; B, for fiber production. Why ? Suggestions. — 6. Every pu- pil should un- dertake at least one simple ex- periment in se- lection of se
. Beginners' botany. Botany. numbers of plants with more or less of the desired quali- ties ; from the best of these, he may again choose ; and so on until the race becomes greatly improved (Figs. 5, 6, 7). This process of continu- ously choosing the most suita- ble plants is known as selec- tion. A some- what similar process pro- ceeds in wild nature, and it is then known as natural se- lection. Fig. 6. — Flax Breeding. A is a plant grown for seed production; B, for fiber production. Why ? Suggestions. — 6. Every pu- pil should un- dertake at least one simple ex- periment in se- lection of seed. He may select kernels from the best plant of corn in the field, and also from the poorest plant,— having reference not so much to mere incidental size and vigor of the plants that may be due to accidental conditions in the field, as to the apparently constitutional strength and size, number of ears, size of ears, perfectness of cars and kernels, habit of the plant as to sucker- ing, and the like. The seeds may be saved and sown the next year. Every crop can no doubt be very greatly improved by a careful process of selection extending over a series of years. Crops are increased in yield or efficiency in three ways : better general care ; enriching the land in which they grow j attention to Fig. 7.— Breed- ing. A, effect from breed- ing from smallest grains (after four years), average head; B, result from breeding from the plumpest and heaviest grains (after four years), average Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde), 1858-1954. New York, The Macmillan company
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbai, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbotany
