Connecticut western news., 1882-09-20
IMPROVEMENT IN CORN.

In wheat mechanical means have to be used to produce cross, but in corn mechanical means have to be used to prevent crossing. There is no limit to the changes that can be made upon corn. MT. Blount, of Colorado, in his paper on the improvement of cereals, read before the convention of agricultulists, furnished valuable information on the subject of improvement in coTn, which is here given in brief
 By selection, as in wheat, corn stalks can be made shorter or taller and more uniform, the blade more symmetrical and regular, the shanks less objection able, the husk wider and longer, the cob smaller and stiffer, the grain more regu- lar and uniform and the habits of the corn much better in adapting itself to soils and localities.
 By crossing one upon another kind, the color, texture, form, quality and the whole individual can be changed by the experimenter. For instance, should a mongrel be wanted, four kernels of diff ferent varieties can be planted near to- gether, one kernel white dent, one yellow dent, one kernel popcorn and one sugar. Should all these four kinds tassel and silk at the same time, each would be fertilized by the pollen of it's three neighbors, but not by it's own, making thereby the offspring mixture in proportion to the amount aud strength of pollen received from the other three. On neither k1nd would there be found 8 single kernel exactly like either of the four planted, from the fact that corn does not generally fertilize itself. No one variety can be made to suit all localities on account of its | habits.
 The farther north corn is raised the shorter the stalk and the more finty the I grain, while the farther south the taller the corn and the softer the grain. Should these two extremes be united the means would include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and so on to the east line of the Great Ameri- can Desert. This belt constitutes the section in which corn can be raised to the best advantage, at the least cost and at the greatest profit. Corn can be inn proved in many ways. First, by making use of seed properly selected.
 All seed-corn should be selected in the field, because there and there only is it possible to obtain the seed true to name, and possessed of the desired characteristics. Only in the field can perfected ears and perfected stalks be found together. Seed-corn should be taken from different parts of the field, to make the relation as remote as possible. Seed. corn should be picked | from those stalks that bear the greatest number of ears, to make it more prolific.
 Seed. corn should be selected from the top ear of those stalks that bear the largesS number, because on the top cal is always found the genuine typica grain, the other ears below not having developed sufficiently to produce goot seed on account of insufficiency of pol len. Seed-corn should always be saved from those stalks that ripen earliest, tt make the season of it's maturity as shor as possible.
 Seed corn should be taken from we'll formed ears, tapering uniformly witt straight rows, because these are nor easily and better protected by the husk In breeding corn in-and-in every ca designed for the propagation of tn species intact should be protected by covering of thin muslin before the sill appears to keep insects and the pollel of foreign and barren stalks away. / hundred per cent. in favor of selecte' seed has been reported in hundreds c cases.
 In every corn-feld is found an enem too little noticed by farmers. It come in the shape of corn itself and is ruin ous in the extreme. This enemy seen in all parts of the crop in the shap of thrifty stalks without ears-barre stalks they are called. The pollen which is very abundant, degrades ever ear it fertilizes. Being so abundant is distributed far and wide, and it's de teriorating effects are plainly seen yea after year more and more. The carefu and vigilant husbandman is aware of tn deIeterious effects of these intruders an at an early stage cuts them away.