Milford chronicle., 1909-07-30

FIG. XI-0OOD TYPE OF KERNEL.
thing that must be done for every To-
cality, since corn shipped In from any
distance cannot be relied on. 1t is
entirely possible to increase the yield
ing ability Of a strain Of corn ten
bushels to the acre or more by a very
few years breeding. Seed from such
an improved strain will find a ready
market at satisfactory figures.
Selection of Ears.
In starting out to improve a strain
Of corn there are two main points to
be considered-yield and quality. The
quality can be determined readily by
inspecting the ears. In examining the
ears the following five points are to
be looked for: ~ General appearance
The ear should be as large as it can
be and still be sure to get ripe every
year. 1t should be straight, symmet-
rical and not taper too abruptly. The
butts and tips should be fairly well
filed, though other more important
points should not be sacrificed for this.
(2) Trueness to type. Every establish
ed breed Of corn has its peculiarities OF
shape, color etc, that must be consid
cred. The general type Of the breeC
should be adhered to closely, as uni
formity is an indication of breeding
(3) Maturity. No ear should be used
for seed that is not sound and well
matured. Soft, chaffy, starchy ker
nels or those shrunken at the tip. with
char adhering to them, are indications
Of immaturity. Deep kernels go with |
late maturing corn. Extreme depth
OF kernel cannot be expected in the |
early varieties that must be grown in
the north. a. Vitality. While all corn
should be tested before it is planted |
yet there are many ears that can he
thrown out without the trouble of test
ing. Immature ears are usually lack
ing in vitality. If the kernels are
blistered on the back or the embryo is
dark or yellowish the chances are that
It VIII not grow. o. Smelling percent.
age. A high percentage of corn to cob
Is desirable. but should be secured by
compact fairly deep kernels rather
than by an abnormally small cob.
Increasing the Yield.
While quality is important. yield is
even more so. This is not so easily
determined. actual field tests being re-
quired. Before starting these tests
the breed Of corn to be grown should
be selected. 1t pays to begin work
with the best corn Obtainable. as you
are thus starting where some one else
has left of. A breed Of corn that has
proved itself adapted to your locality
Is the best to select
There are almost as many methods
OF breeding seed corn as there are corn
breeders. Many Of these are too COM
plicated to be adapted to the farmer
who is Just starting in as a corn
breeder. After a few years. expert
ence with a simpler method, some Of
the plans for keeping a record Of each
ear from year to year and producing
s'pedigreed" seed corn may be EN-.
ployed
The breeding plot should be 500 to
600 feet long-just long enough so that
II takes an ear to plant row. It
should be wide enough for about fifty
Of these rows. The soil and drainage
OF the plot should be as
nearly uniform as possible. II should /,
be located twenty to forty rods from ,
any other corn, so that there VIII be !
no danger Of mixing. Fifty Of the best J
Ears Of the desired strain should be i.
Ielected and shelled separately. Each !.
If the rows in the breeding plot is TO
le planted with one OF these ears. The
york can be done with q planter If Z
anB d taken 70 clean out tbs boxes y