The grains of each of these selected heads were [114] sown
separately, and the lots compared during their whole life-period and
chiefly at harvest time. Three of the lots were judged of high
excellence, and they alone were propagated, and proving to be constant
new varieties from the outset were given to the trade under the names of
"Shirreff's bearded white," "Shirreff's bearded red," and "Pringle's
wheat." They have found wide acceptance, and the first two of them are
still considered by Vilmorin as belonging to the best wheats of France.
This second method of Shirreff evidently is quite analogous to the
principle of Lagasca and Le Couteur. The previous assumption that new
varieties with striking features were being produced by nature from time
to time, was abandoned, and a systematic inquiry into the worth of all
the divergent constituents of the fields was begun. Every single ear at
once proved to belong to a constant and pure race, but most of these
were only of average value. Some few however, excelled to a degree,
which made them worth multiplying, and to be introduced into trade as
separate varieties.
Once started, this new method of comparison, selection and isolated
multiplication was of course capable of many improvements. The culture
in the experiment-field was improved, so as to insure a fuller and more
rapid growth.
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