The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-12-08
A Method for the Improvement
of Corn.

OF Corn.
The proper observance of a, few
important factors relating to the
breeding of corn will result in Sc
curing increased yields of better
grade of corn than the original seed.
This gain can be easily secured If one
will devote a 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 go through a
field before the crop has been gather
ed and select about one hundred of
the best formed ears that point down.
ward from the most vigorous look
ing 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 fer
tile spots in the field or had more
distance in the drill from which to
draw an extra supply of plant food.
After having made the above selec-
ton the ears should be. "shucked"
and placed on a 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 in the breeding patch should
be as much alike in every respect as
possible, thus securing uniformity.
(2) All ears should be as near
cylindrical shape as possible, as a
cylindrical shaped ear will carry.
higher percentage of grain than a
tapering one.
co All white varieties should
have white kernels and white cobs
unless red cob variety, then all
3cobs. should be red. Yellow kernels
and red cobs in white corn indicate
mixture.
(4) The tips and butts should be
well covered with uniform and well
shaped kernels.
90 The kernels on all parts of
the ear should be as near alike in
shape, size and color as possible, as
the shape and size determine, in q
large measure, the regularity with
which a corn planter will drop them.
CO The lenghth for single ear va
rieties should not be less than eight
inches with circumference about six
inches measured one-third the dis
tance from butt.
Having selected about fifty ears
according to the above directions
from the one hundred first gathered
they should be stored away until
near planting time in some dry place
where weevils or mice will not af-
feet them. Then they should be plac-
ed on a plank or large box and num-
bered consecutively from one to so
in order that they may be tested for
termination or ability to sprout.
This test is made as follows: Fill
soap or starch box with wet sawdust,
placing on top of the sawdust wet
-four or meal sack which has been
laid off in pencil squares 2x2 inches.
The squares should then be number
ed from one to so. Then take ear
No. and remove six kernels from 1t,
taking the first 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 cor
responding to the number of the ear
from which they were removed. Then
cover them with a wet sack and place
the box in the kitchen and allow it
to remain there a week, wetting it
twice during that length of time. At
ter the test has been running about
a week remove the top sack and ex-
anime each square containing the
kernels. The number of those
squares which do not contain six
large sprouts should be ascertained
and the ear corresponding to the
number of that particular square
should be discarded, as all of the
kernels on it will not grow.
Having decided which ears are to
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