The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07
SHOWING VARIETIES

gins to flower go carefully throughGt ne
field and destroy the tassels OF all plants
that are barren SO that the pollen fl ON
these will not fertilize tho silks Of pro-
ductive plants. Make sure that the de-
tasseling is done before the pollen fornls.
The corn plant should also re carefully,
suckered, ! not more t han two plants should
be allowed to remain in a hill, aid any
plants showing evidences Of smut should
be pulled up and destroyed.
Throughout the growing season the
farmer should pay frequent visits to
the corn field. SO that he may study
the u individual plants and select those
that chow spe ~ al vigor and the desirable
characteristics he wishes to perpetuatc.
This study Of the growing plants is y
Very important matter, for one canl0t
always rely with any degree Of certainty
en- going into the field In the autumn
and picking out the great big ears from
the big coarse plants. To succeed in Sc
lecting corn one must study the individ-
uals closely in order to be able to make
fine distinctions. for It Is the ability, 10
make fine distinctions that measures the
success of the artist III any line anu
quite as much in the case of corr: breed
Ing as in any otlier pursuit. 355
Having made a previous study OF the
nlants when harvest time arrives, tle
farmer Is ready to 30 into the fell ard
make an intelligent selection from the
stalk. showing the charac teristics he prefers
and bearing ears OF the type he has set
UP as his IDEAL OF course. q staDdari
ii essential, which means that the farm
Of must determine whether he wants
a very large coarse stalk with the ear
high from the ground or a small s A,ut
stalk with the cal set on lower down:
whether he wants q very large, coarSc3
grained ear or q !. medium sized compnct
one closely packed With .slinty, wedge,
shaped grains. "A word Of warning nlIty
he advisable here, 1t Is always q mis-
take 81 to select from abnormal plants or
animals. Such selection increases tile
tendencyto variation and when carried
TO excess results In. the development Of
undesirable qualities, increases TIE ton
dency tosdisease and produces all sabnor-
mally coarse product. On the other
hand, selection from too small stalks
would result In a loss of vigor. Do not
choose from either one of these OK
tremcs; the happy medium is much bot
ter and safer md will give far more
satisfactory results In The end.
Select the ears from stout, healthy
stalks that have made a uniform growth.
Throughout the season. and that are
we'll provided with leaves so as to furnish
plenty Of fodder, Il Be sure that the tassel
!ofSthe plant Ii strong and sYigorol US, and
that 1t Is free from any evidences OF
disease. See that It is an upright grow
ing plant and firmly rooted In the soil.
ii, TWO METHODS. II
Two methods Of selecting ears will
present themselves, and the farmer
must choose Which no deems best for
his locality. He may either select ono
good sized chr from a stalk or two
medlun-sized ears, BY selecting two
Rmedium-sized ears he Will obtain larger
yields In tho long run. though he may
I have to follow up his practice several
years before getting tho hoped-forl res
3snlts, IN either case the type or ear.
selected should POSSESS the same qualities
save for size only. Select only ears that
are we'll slked, that have ia good coynr-
Ing of i huskS coming we'll over the tip,
An excessive amount OF husk II, OF
course, objectionable, as It indicates
noarseness The shank bearing the ear
should be short and mt over an inch or
an inch and a quarter In diameter, and
the ears should point dcWnward.8 The
number Of rows iof era n on Y ear VIII
vary with the variety, but In nearly all 4
standard varieties they run from ~ to-