Chapter 47 Believe in potential

I believe in the wisdom of the working people, and part of the work of seed selection and breeding can be left to the common people.

When this point of view was raised, Guo Shouchun strongly opposed: "Lao Cheng, I know you are doing it for their own good, and I also understand the influence of that uncle. Selective breeding is a very scientific matter, and it requires the selection of excellent parent materials and

To configure a suitable hybrid combination, you must determine the combination method after selection. In addition to single crosses of two parents, multiple crosses of more than two parents are also required, including triple crosses, quadruple crosses, and sequence crosses of more than four parents."

"This is not over yet. Obtaining hybrid seeds through various methods of crossbreeding is only the first step in creating the required genetic variation. The breeding of new strains and new varieties also requires a series of processing and experimental processes.

When a pair of pure-line wheat parents are crossed, the hybrids do not separate in the first generation, but continue to separate in the third and fourth generations. It is not until the fifth and sixth generations that the plants in the hybrid population tend to be homozygous.

Produce genetically stable offspring."

Cheng Nuo saw that he was talking for such a long time, so he poured a bowl of soup and handed it to him.

Guo Shouchun declined, his temper a bit high: "Lao Cheng, I know you want them to have enough food, but science is not a child's play, it is rigorous. Some time ago, you told me what the illiteracy rate was in the Republic of China?"

Cheng Nuo blurted out the statistical data of later generations: "About 80%, lower along the southeast coast and higher in the northwest inland."

"Look, let me tell you." Guo Shouchun spread his hands: "I guess many people can't write their own names, how can they do this job."

Cheng Nuo smiled, drank the soup in the bowl, and wiped his mouth: "Lao Guo, our farming nation has farming engraved in our bones. For thousands of years, we will not just watch the sky and eat."

He took out a notebook from his carry-on luggage, turned to one of the pages and handed it to Guo Shouchun: "Old Guo, take a look for yourself."

With a suspicious look, Guo Shouchun glanced at him and then took the notebook and read aloud the marked paragraph: "Get wheat seeds and harvest them when they are ripe. Select those with strong ears and cut off the high points in the attitude.

Exposure will cause extreme dryness. If there are no white fish, they will be cured by raising them. Take dry mugwort and store it mixed with a stone of wheat and a handful of moxa. Hide it in an earthenware and bamboo vessel. If you plant it at the right time, you will get twice the harvest."

Because it is written in classical Chinese, Cheng Nuo has not been good at it since time travel, so he specially excerpted this passage.

After he finished reading, Cheng Nuo explained: "This is a passage in "The Book of Pan Sheng". In the first year, 'Select the strongest ones', and after sowing in the second year, 'The harvest will be twice as much as usual.' Such a simple truth

We have known this since the Han Dynasty. It is true that science is rigorous, but agriculture is different. It needs to be grounded and rooted in the soil of the countryside."

In fact, we later exerted the power of mobilizing the working people to the extreme.

For example, Mrs. Zuo Qiaosheng from Qilu Province discovered an excellent plant from an upright peanut in 1944. In that war-torn era, she went through various difficulties and continuously cultivated it, and launched a variety called "Fuhua Peanut", which matures early.

It has a high kernel yield, is tolerant to low temperatures, has good drought resistance, and can adapt to both north and south.

Another example is the famous late japonica rice variety "Laolaiqing", which was bred by Chen Yongkang, a farmer, using the "one ear" method. It has been introduced to 15 countries, and he only attended private school for three years.

After liberation, the mass seed selection movement was carried out, which greatly inspired the enthusiasm of farmers, and a large number of farmer seed selectors emerged.

Of the more than 2,000 excellent varieties, about 2/3 were selected and bred by farmers from all over the country.

This is not to say that reading is useless, after all, the method of seed selection requires scientific guidance, but it is to say that one must take root in this land.

Seeing that he was still thinking about this sentence, Cheng Nuo took advantage of this time to give himself another bowl of shepherd's purse soup: "Lao Guo, there are spring wheat and winter wheat in so many places across the country. You only need a pair of legs to run here.

Even if you can run here, how long will it take?"

"What's the matter? I can just use these legs to measure the great rivers and mountains of the motherland." Guo Shouchun didn't care about himself, and then questioned: "Even if I agree with you to mobilize them, why do they support us? Have you considered it?"

“It’s because I’ve thought about it that I think this method is feasible.”

"No, how come you think it's okay after thinking about it?"

Cheng Nuo pointed to the clay pot and explained: "It's because they don't have enough to eat or wear warm clothes that they are more motivated to do this. Nothing is more important than having a full stomach. Although there are more people who doubt us, as long as a town has a

If one person out of a thousand people tries it, the method will be effective, and it will be much easier to handle next year."

Looking at the wheat fields in the distance, Cheng Nuo sighed: "We do this for our ideals, and they do this for survival. They deal with wheat seedlings every day, so they must see this potential."

After listening to this, Guo Shouchun was thoughtful and wanted to have a bowl of shepherd's purse soup, but when he opened the jar, only the bottom was left.

"Old Cheng, Old Cheng, you are too unreasonable."

After the convoy arrived at Xiaowang Village, it stayed for a while. After Cheng Nuo and the others finished their inspection, they left and continued walking in another direction.

He wanted to inspect the countryside, and Guo Shouchun wanted to inspect agriculture. The two cooperated with each other, and the investigation progressed quickly.

The inspection ended a few days later, and the two returned to Beiping City with a lot of harvest. There was sadness and happiness among them.

The sadness lies in the fact that rural areas are so depleted, and many farmers would rather sell their land to avoid taxes. As a result, local governments cannot collect taxes, and then they increase taxes, creating a vicious cycle.

I am happy that many farmers have retained their simplicity and will not abandon the land as long as there is a glimmer of hope. When the squires heard that new seeds will be promoted in the future, they were more supportive than a little skeptical and expressed their willingness to use part of their fertile land as experimental fields.

After all, the land here is becoming less valuable year by year, so what are you doing with a hundred kilograms of output?

When he got home and saw that the yard was paved with blue bricks, Cheng Nuo called Li Laosan over: "Lao Li, hurry up tomorrow and call a few people to remove all the bricks on the ground, leaving only those who can walk."

"Okay, but sir, what are you doing with this beautiful big yard? I'm still thinking about buying some small goldfish at the temple fair one day and setting up a big water tank for you to keep."

Cheng Nuo knelt down and took a look at the soil below: "Why do you need those fancy things? You have to change fish fry frequently. It would be a pity not to plant something in such a large piece of land. Then you can plant wheat in the front yard.

Grow vegetables in the backyard.”

During this trip, Cheng Nuo's planting genes were completely discovered. Now when he comes back and sees this open space, he feels itchy all over, and he feels bad for not planting anything.

"No problem, I will do it beautifully for you sir, but why do we have to plant wheat?" Li Laosan was puzzled.

Cheng Nuo explained: "It's an experimental field. You have to experiment first, right? Then you can learn more from Mr. Guo and let him teach you how to select and breed seeds. It just so happens that you have been dealing with wheat for decades, so you can get started.

It will definitely be soon. When the time comes, I will open a peasant school and let you become a teacher."

"Can I also be a teacher?" Li Laosan was a little unbelievable, surprised and happy: "I just need to learn from Mr. Guo and take good care of this wheat field, right?"

Cheng Nuo encouraged: "Yes, Lao Li, I'm optimistic about you."

After hearing the definite answer, Li Laosan's face turned red with excitement, and he immediately said that he was looking for someone to lift the floor.

Cheng Nuo stood up and patted the dirt on his hands, touched the old apricot tree in the yard, looked up, and talked to himself.

Spring is here, and it’s time for the old man to sprout.
Chapter completed!