THE FARM.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13644, 8 February 1913, Page 2

THE FARM.

PLANT BREEDING

There arc immense possibilities bei'ora mankind in plant-breedipg—new farm crops, new 'fiowors (says a writer in the "New Zealand Herald"). It is possible- with a- little care to evolve from tho karaka a new and. valuable orchard tree. The common dnkweed might give a© it berry superior to any of our parent varieties. From the widespread manuka .an infinite- variety of noble flowering shrubs could, be obtained. It is. common knowledge that a mere chance seedling of this weed plant Avon the admiration of the leading florists in Europe, but \ifcs possibilities have barely been touched. One can find in any clump of this growth variations which promise- much to. the plant developer—specimens with frilled petals, specimens with double blossoms, and ranging in .hue from the purest white to the richest of pinks and reds.

Man has done much in the way of improving his domestic, sto-ck by breeding and selection. He li?.s developed tho meat-producing Shorthorn to such a pitch that all its energies go to the making of be-ef. He. has developed the jTiilking qualities of cows ■until some of tho l.ie.-t give- him over Jialf a ton of butfcer-fat in one eoason. There is scope in tin's direction for every dairy farmer, for there is no cow so good but it, may bo improved on, and there are far too many cow:j ,<;o bad that they entail a serious joss o f time and money on their owners.

Tho. idea that nature is fast fixed in unalterable, lines is the idea of the ignorant. Nature is not even domin-

ant. Man is master of it. ami can mould nearly all its products to his will. To accept things as they are, ever at the present high level of agricultural and horticultural development, is unworthy -of a proud and •prosperous people. We to-day ore benefiting by the grains and roots, the fruits and flowers, the graces and rod dors evolved during thousands of years by those who liavo- lived before u-s. Kvorv boy

and girl in New. Zealand shoulol set thomsolves «jmo ta«k of development or improvement in the line they know best, not matter how .simple it is—the advancement of a single iiower, the enlargement of a turnip, tho improvement of an .apple or a pear. Every | farmer should contribute, .something in tho selection of so«d or the improvement of an animd. Such work is noble work, it repays the worker and bonefits tho nation. If. this desire for im'provomeut he<tame common it could enrich Us enormously in a pecuniary way, but it would enrich tho minds and the lives of those who did such workstill more-. It would l.a>l|> to lift farm life out of .the monotonous routine into which some, people Ikv.-o drifted, and I fill' it with interest .and stimulating endeavour. To. win the greatest re-' suits may ienquire yeans of patient labour, and again great results may be : won by sheer accident ; but there noeeS; bo no real failn;■<*■■. T'iero is such vast

room for. improvement, , : .;o many wavi? open t-o i.hose w!i ;j .\\l\ c;-y that anyone can win a prize.