Hayes and Garber - Cucurbit Breeding

210 BREEDING CROP PLANTS
plant selections. The hereditary constancy of forms so isolated
may be tested by selfing or by adopting methods which insure
close breeding.
Breeding Timothy. The United States Department of Agriculture
has carried on extensive experiments in timothy breeding
at New London and North Ridgeville, Ohio, but unfortunately
the work has not been published. As a result of breeding, two
improved varieties have been widely distributed through the
Ohio Experiment Station. The Cornell and Svalof Experiment
Stations have done considerable timothy breeding.
Webber et al (1912) published a detailed report of the experiments
as carried on at Cornell. Samples of timothy seed were
procured from various sources in the United States, Canada and
other countries. This seed produced an abundance of different
forms from which selections were made. Individual plants were
selected on the basis of the following characters;
1. High-yielding ability.
2. Height.
3. Broad and thick plants, which stool abundantly.
4. Many and dense culms.
5. Erect, non-lodging plants.
6. Many large leaves.
7. Leaves extending well toward the top of the plant.
8. Leaves remaining green until plant is nearly ready to harvest.
9. Rust resistance.
10. Spikes of medium size, setting seed freely.
The ultimate aim was to produce a high-yielding variety.
A selected plant was dug up and vegetatively propagated by
separating bulblets from it. The bulblets were set out in rows
(16 to 24 per row) and allowed plenty of space for individual
development. Self-fertilized seed from these various clones
was planted in sterilized soil and the seedlings were transplanted
in rows as above. By a comparison of these rows and the respective
clones from which they came it was found whether they
were breeding true for the characters desired. When sufficient
seed was available, plots were sown broadcast and yields obtained.
As soon as a form appeared valuable and bred comparatively
it was isolated and increased.
true,
According to Webber self-fertilized
seed may be produced by
placing several spikes of the same plant, just before blooming,
under a paper bag. At University Farm Minn., only a few seeds