The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-02-05
THE CORN PLANT FOR I'M
PROVEMENT.

BREEDING THE CORN PLANT FOR I'M
PROVEMENT.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
The corn plant has been bred Gn
other words, bended to mans needs
and fancies) in desultory and un-
satisfactory manner, for many years.
But it is only during the past few
years that rapid strides have been
made in breeding the corn plant for
special purposes. Corn is now being
bred as Systematically and effectually
as is thOrOughbr stock and poultry.
But there has been only few varie-
ties of striking merit originated by
careful breeding during the past 40
years. True, there are annually in
troduced many so-called wonderful
novelties, that are claimed to revO-
lutionize corn growing, make your
farm 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-cal1ed novelties,
are old varieties introduced 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 bet
ter, and in many instances not so
good, so far as yield is concerned,
than are many well-known standard
varieties. Many farmers of the pres
ent day believe that crossing two or
more varieties originates a new Crea
tion which is superior. There are
also others who believe thai select
ing the ears at husking 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.
| have concluded that crossing two
or more highly bred varieties, which
are yet in their prime, provided the
crossing is followed up by several
years careful breeding by a skillful
plant breeder, is the only method
which Establishes real and lasting
improvement. And that even this
method to be successful in the high
est degree, must be prosecuted in a
locality where, owing to congenial
climatic and soil conditions, the
plant reaches it's highest state of
perfection.
It 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
provement, 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-
vided it is followed up by several
years careful breeding of the re
vitalized creation, of promoting real
progress. and consequently increas-
ing our average yield of corn.
New combinations of power being
created by a 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, enables the grower to at
tain real success in corn breeding.
But even with the most skillful
breeder, and with the most superior