Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-02-26
THE IMPROVEMENT OF
CORN.


tursl Experiment Station. Blacksburg)
Corn is the most important crop
which the American farmer grows. Its
total value so far exceeds that of any
other crop that it leaves little chance
for comparison. The farmers of Mis-
sissippi and neighboring states are fond
of lauding king Cotton" but it is
only in a local sense that it can be so
called, for corn is "King" in America.
We are proud of Virginia's rank as
third in the United States in the pro-
duction of tobacco, yet the total value
Of Virginia's tobacco crop is less than
one-fourth that of her corn crop.
SELECTION OF SEED CORN.
1t should be understood in the begin
ming that we consider selection as the
basis for Improvement. We select our
seed corn from the standing crop in the
field BY this means we are able to
study the plants on which the corn
grew. 1t is not enough to pick good
ears from the crib stock, because those
ears may have grown on plants too
weak to stand up during the season, or
they may have had defects and unde-
sirable qualities that render them unfit
for use in producing other crops. Right
here let me say that the same laws
of breeding which we understand fairly
well with animals hold true with plants.
If we plant seed from excellent plants
we are far more likely to get good
plants than il we seed from inferior
plants. Anyone that goes into corn
field and gives the subject moments s
thought will notice that there is wide
range of variation among the individ-
ual plants. We want a plant of medium
size with one large ear, and select that
type when we are picking our seed corn.
There is tendency in Virginia and all
the other Southern states for the corn
to grow too much to stalk and too
little to grain. This fault can be over
come by selecting plants with the ears
placed low down on the stalk. We do
not pick an ear for seed that is grown
more than three and half feet from
the ground. Then we want plants with
plenty of leaves. 1t must be remem-
hered that the leaves are the factories
that manufacture the starch and sugar
and other ingredients of the grain.
Without leaves there can be no grain
produced.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A PERFECT EAR.
After selecting the right kind of a
plant. the next thing is to select good
ears. The ear which 1 will describe
has been adopted by some of the Corn
Breeders Associations of the Middle
West as standard. 1t is of medium
size. about nine inches long and seven
inches in circumference, measured three
inches from the butt. 1t should taper
slightly from butt to tip. but approach
in general outline the cylindrical form.
The rows of kernels should fit as closely
as possible together, so as to get as
much grain on the cob as can be made
70 grow there. Therefore, we shoulc
pay much attention to the shape of the
kernels. 1t is only the wedge-shapeC
grains with straight sides that will fl
well together and prevent broad fur
rows between the rows of kernels. d.
not pick kernels that are shaped lik,
your thumb nail 1t is only in the earl,
maturing, eight-rowed flint corns o
the North that this type is desirable
The corn that we grow here shoul,
have long, deep kernels to insure max
imum yields of grain. The rows O
kernels should be carried well out owe
both ends of the ear. If the butt O
the ear is well filed out with grail
it not only indicates that the ear ha
a tendency to put on all the grain pos
Isible, but also insures a small necl
where the ear is attached to the stalk
and will break off easily when it i
husked.
CARE OF THE SEED.
After we have selected good ear
from good plants, we should take car
of them. When corn is first husked i
the fall, it contains about thirty-fiv
per cent moisture, and if it is allowe
to freeze in that condition, or is throw
in pile and allowed to mould, tn
lgermination of the corn will be greatl
injured. The seed corn should b
tstored in dry, well-ventilated place a