The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-14
A METHOD FOR THE IMPROVE
MENT OF CORN.
Clemson Extension Work - Article
XXyU.

creased yields of better grade of
corn than the original seed. This
gain can be easily secured IL one will
devote little time and patience in
making the proper start In the right
direction.
The first thing to be done in the
breeding of corn Is To 20 through a
Held before the crop has been gather
ed and select about one hundred OF
the best formed ears that point down
ward from the most various looking
stalks but In order that any future
increase In yield may be brought
about by these selected ears. they
should be taken from stalks which
have not been favored by fertile spots
In the field or had more distance In
the drill from which To draw an ex-
ira supply OF plant food. After hav-
lag made the above selection tho ears
should be "shucked" and placed on
large box or table In order that
each individual ear may be carefully
examined.
In making this examination one
should consider the following points:
CD All the ears which are to be
planted ir the breeding patch should
be as mSc.I alike I'm every respect as
possible. thus securing uniformity.
CD All ears should be as near
cylindrical shape as possible. as a cy-
iindrical shaped ear will carry
higher percentage of grain than
tapering one.
(D All white varieties should
have white kernels and white cobs
unless a red cob variety. then all cobs
should be red. Yellow kernels and
red cobs In white corn indicate mix
ture.
(D The tips and butts should be
well covered WITH uniform and well
shapei kernels.
tO Tire kerrel OF all parts OF the
ear shold bS as near alike in shape.
size and color as possible. as the shape
, and size determine. in a large meas
ure. the regularity with which a corn
planter will drop them.
(O The length for single ear va
rieties should be not less than eight
inches with circumference about
SIX inches measured one-third the
distance from butt.
Having selected about fifty ears
according TO the above directions
from the one hundred first gather
cd they should be stored away until
near planting time I'm some dry place
where weevils or mice will not af-
feet them. Then they should be plac-
cd on plank or large box and num-
bered consecutively from 1 to so in
order that they may be tested for
termination or ability TO sprout. This
test Is made as follows: fn a soap
OF starch box with vet sawdust, plac-
Ing on top OF the sawdust a wet
flour or meal sack which has been
laid or In pencil squares 2 2 in
ches The squares should then be
numbered from to so. Then take
ear No. 1 and remove six kernels
from H. taking the first kernel about
one inch from the butt. slightly turn
ear In the hand and remove another
kernel about one and a-half inches
from the place where the first one
was removed. Continue this slight
turning OF the ear and removal OF
kernels until the six are secured.
Having removed the kernels. place
them germ side up in square No.
all tips pointing In the same direction.
Continue To remove kernels from the
Individual ears. placing them in the
square corresponding to the number
OF the ear from which they were re-
moved. Then cover them with a wet
sack and place the box In the kitch-
en- and allow IL to remain there a
week. wetting II twice during that
length OF time. After the test has
been running week remove the
top sack and examine each square
containing the kernels. The num-
Der OF these squares which do not
contain six large sprouts should he
ascertained and the ear correspond
Ing to the number Of that particular
square should be discarded. as all OF
the kernels on II will not grow.
Having decided which ears are 10
he retained each should he planted on
a separate row. IL IL not necessary
that the entire ear be planted. but
precautions must be taken so that
each row planted will have tho same
number OF stalks and distance. both
In the drill and between the rows.