The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-10-29
GROWING THOROUGH
BRED CORN
Impor ant Facts Concerning
Best Types and
Varieties


well defined characteristics that de-
note the thoroughbred, just as there
are in hogs or cattle or horses. And
the breeding of corn has become a:
exact a science as the breeding OF
animals.
The following article by ]. w
Jones, recognized corn xpert give
valuable information and advice along
the lines of corn breeding:
Try to select 10 ears Of type and
size of ear and kernel that you are
willing to work with and depend up
on as crop for the next 20 years.
That means unusual care. The judge
at corn show viii endeavcr to award
first prize to the exhibit that will
give the largest yield Of good mature
corn per acre, if planted next spring.
The stock breeder realizes the import
ance of selecting animals that show
strong breed characteristics. The
Poland China breeder will not toler-
ate Belshire type of head and ear.
The herd must show good tyne and
strong breed characteristics. No one
wants mongrel 1t is just as i'm
portant to have good type and breed
characteristics in corn as in live stock.
Mongrel corn generally means some
ears so large that they never mature
and, therefore, have low feeding value.
Some ears so weak that they give no
yield. Barren stalks and "nubbin"
stalks will be common. Scarcely no
two ears alike. Some will ripen in
rs days and give low yield. Others
will require 10 days and never get
ripe. The type or variety of dent corn
best suited for most of the irrigated
land in the lower Boise, Payette and
Weiser valleys and other districts that
have similar soil, altitude and climatic
conditions should be an ear ranging
from S15 inches to 91z inches in
length and a well proportioned diam
eter. A district that will not safely
ripen q dent corn 81 inches in length
should grow the flint varieties. The
flint varieties mature in a shorter sea
son than do the dent varieties.
There are extremely few districts
where it is safe to attempt to grow a
large 10-inch ear. Too many ears
will be soft. 1t is liable to spoil in
the crib and, in any event, it will
have poor feeding or market value.
The shape of the ear should be
cylindrical, tapering moderately. Short,
bunchy ears should be avoided as
should also the weak slender ear.
The chunk horse and the horse with
long, weak back never bring the top
market.
Pick out a hundred ears and take
them in and lay them out on the din
ing table after supper and then select
he ten that are most uniform and
show the desirable type characteristics
n both ear and kernel. Carefully
ift out a kernel and lay it opposite
he ear. The ear can not be intelli-
-ently judged without studying the
,ernel. The kernels should be uni
orm in width, thickness, and in depth.
The kernel that is too hlocky will like
Y be disappointing when it is shelled.
he thin kernel is generally irregular
nd lacks strength. The very deep
ernel is liable to not ripen. The
cry short kernel viii suggest only a
peeling' Of corn around a large cob
nd, of course, this is had.
The ear that tapers ali the way
rom butt to tip will necessarily show
ernels that taper in width and depth
rom butt to tip. The width of the
ernel should be uniform from two
birds to three fourths Of the distance
,om butt to tip, then gradually taper.
ook out for running cut" ten
ancies. The indication is slick, short,
inty kernels on sharp pointed ears :
1tending well back from the tip. \
his is not at all uncommon. Dent
'rn has a natural tendency to revert
the flint type. Wide furrows he
seen the rows of kernels is also an
dication Of running cut"
A well filed out butt and tip is de-
rable. Many good ears have been
,thered this season with the ear
arm. That means that the tip ker-
is have been injured OF destroyed.
his defect is not hereditary in the
ed. The tip kernels win be sheIled
T anyway. A good ear should not
discarded because of a defective
}. A good pig with 8 frozen tail