The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-11-27
Agriculture.
BREEDING FOR INCREASED CORN YIELD.

y
ing stronger.
In past years there has been but
IGttIe real breeding of the corn plant,
as concerned in the ..so-called produc-
ton of new superior varieties. But
there has been a few varieties of
striking merit originated by careful
breeding during the past 40 years.
True, there are annually introduced
many so-caIled wonderful novelties,
that are claimed to revolutionize
corn growing; make your farm a
gold mine, ETC., etc. After % years
experience in breeding and growing
seeds, having during this time tested
almost every so-called corn novelty
that has been offered from all points
of the compass, I have decided that
about three-fourths of such so-called
novelties are old varieties intro
duced under high sounding names,
and inflated, extravagant claims. Or
supposed new varieties, which have
evidently come from old degenerate
sorts, or have been found by chance,
on board of an abandoned vessel, or
in bag of coffee in South America,
or in some other mysterious manner.
The writer's experience in the corn
field, is that almost all of these So
called wonderful corn novelties are
no better, and in many cases not so
good, as tar as yield is concerned,
than are many we'll known standard
varieties. Many farmers of the
present day believe that crossing
two or more varieties originates a
new creation which is superior.
There are also many others who be-
heve, that selecting the ears at husk-
ing time is the only method. During
my experience in breeding the corn
plant, have discovered some truths
that have contributed to my success
as a breeder.
I have concluded that crossing
two or more highly bred varieties,
which are yet in their prime, pro
vided the crossing is followed up by
several years careful breeding by
skillful plant breeder, is the only
method which establishes real and
lasting Improvement. And that even
this method to be successful in the
highest degree, must be prosecuted
in a locality where owing to con-
genial climatic and soil conditions,
the plant reaches it's highest state
of perfection.
1t is clearly a case of breeding and
Development. That is the only way
To expect real progress. And as old
varieties which have passed their
prime, are almost incapable of i'm
proyement, it is therefore to new
varieties that we must look for
further progress.
The crossing of highly bred varie
ties Of corn which are in their prime,
and which are not too dissimilar in
growth or habit, and which furnish
greatness as a basis, / have found to
be the most successful method, pro
yided it is followed up by several
Years careful breeding of the revital-
ized creation, of promoting real pro
gress, and consequently increasing
our average yield of corn.
New combinations of power being
created by judiciOus cross or
crosses, the resultant progressive
variations intensified, and the atavis-
tic tendencies eliminated, by sys-
tematic selection of the growing
stalks in the field, before their pollen
ripens, has enabled the writer to at
tain real success in corn breeding.
But even with the most skillful
breeder, and with the most superior
basis, several years of selection, and
often repeated and various crossings
are required before a new variety of
unusual merit can be established.
The writer believes that the habit of
barrenness and its attendant degen-
eracy-laziness low terminating
power, dry rot, smut, ETC., has been
the chief hindrance to signal success
IN corn breeding in past years. A
successful cross is one step in the
direction of eliminating barrenness.
Then if the breeder would establish
cosmopolitan variety of great pro
ductiveness, which possesses a vigor-
Gus adaptive character, in the way