The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1909-07-21


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 strain of corn ten
bushels to the acre or more by 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: a. General appearance
The ear should be as large as it cam
be and still be sure to get ripe every
year 1t should be straight. symmets
rical and not taper too abruptly. The
butts and tips should be fairly well
filed, though other more importanf'
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 breed
should be adhered to closely, as uni
formity is an indication of breeding
81 Maturity No ear should be used
for seed that is not sound and well
matured. Soft, chaffy. starchy kerr
nels or those shrunken at the tip. with
chaff 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. az Vitality. While all corn
should be tested before it is planted
yet there are many ears that can be
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 will not grow. % 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.
CURED. 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 off. 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 he adapted to the farmer
who is just starting in as a corn
breeder. After a few years expert
ence with simpler method, some of
the plans for keeping record of each
ear Don year to year and producing
\ fnedigteedr seed corn may be EN-
'eedipg plot should be 800 to
- 3ng just long enough so that
ear to plant a row. II
take ITO vide enough for about Fifty
USv& The soil and drainage
EDEB of the plot should be as
NLAifofm as possible. 1t should
\ twenty to forty rods from
|, FARMERS cbrn, so that there will be
wheatto usf mixing. Fifty Of the best
4 eat CHARC desired strain should bc
selerteu atsd shelled separately. Each
of the rows in the breeding plot is t.
be planted with one Of these ears. The
work can be done with a planter If
care is taken to clean out the boxes