The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1914-11-19
HOW TO Breed CORN
SCIENTIFICALLY
Select Seed from Vigor-
Gus Hills.
J. ". jones IS AN EXPERT

A fact that has been demonstrated
beyond question concerning the grow
ing OF corn is that there are certain
we'll defined characteristics that de-
note the thoroughbred just as there
are in hogs or cattle or horses. And
the breeding of corn has become as
exact a science as the breeding OF
animals.
The following article by ]. w.
Jones, recognized corn expert give
valuable information and advice along
the lines OF corn breeding
Try to select 10 ears OF type and
size of ear and kernal that you are
willing to work with and depend up
on as a crop for the next 20 years.
That means unusual care. The Judge
at corn show will endeavor to award
first prize to the exhibit that will
give the largest yield OF good mature
corn per acre. II planted next spring.
The stock breeder realizes the import
ance OF selecting animals that show
strong breed characteristics. The
Poland China breeder will mot toler-
ste n Borshlre type OF head and ear.
The herd must show good type and
strong breed characteristics. No one
wants a mongrel. II is just as I'M
portant to have good type and breed
characteristics in corn as in live stock
Mongrel corn generally mean some
ears so large that they never mature
and, therefore, have low feeding value
Some ears 80 weak that they give no
yield. Barren stalks and "nubbin'
stalks will be common. Scarcely no
two ears alike Some rlpen In
75 days and give low yield. Others
will require 40 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 climate
conditions should be an ear ranging
from sh inches to 9h inches In
length and u we'll proportioned diam
eter. A district that will not safely
ripen dent corn SIs inches In length
should grow the flint varieties. The
flint varieties mature In shorter sea
son than do the dent varieties.
There are extremely few districts
whore II Is safe to attempt TO grow
large 10-inch ear. Too many ears
will be soft, II Is liable to spoil IN
the crib and, In any event, Il 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 hundred ears and take
them In and lay them out on the din
ing table after supper and then select
the ten that are most uniform and
show the desirable type characteristics
In both ear and kernel. Carefully
lift out a kernal and lay II opposite
the ear. The ear can not be intel'i-
gently judged without studying the
kernal, The kernals should be uni
form In width. thickness, and In depth.
The kernal that is too blocky will like
ly be disappointing when II is shelled.
The thin kernal Is generally irregular
and lacks strength. The very deep
kernal is liable TO not ripen, The
very short kernal will suggest only
"peeling" OF corn around large cob
and. OF course. this is bad. -
The ear that tapers all the way
from butt to tip will necessarily show
kernals that taper In width and depth
from butt TO tip. The width OF the
kernal should be uniform from two
thirds to three-fourths of the distance
from butt to tip. then gradually taper,
Look out for running out" ten
denotes. The indication is slick, short,
flinty kernals ON sharp pointed ears
extending we'll back from the tip.
This is not at all uncommon. Dent
corn has IA natural tendency TO revert
TO the flint type. Wide furrows be-
tween the rows of kernels is also an
indication of running out
A we'll filled out butt and tip is de-
sirable. Many good ears have been
bothered this season with the ear