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THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
Thursday, August 29, 1907.
Improvement of Corn and Cotton by Field Selection.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CORN.
The Qualities Which Should Belong to a Good
Stalk, a Good Ear, and a Good Grain,
Messrs. Editors: If seed corn is to be selected
with success the work must be undertaken in a
systematic manner. Selection of large ears at the
crib is of course better' than no selection atall,
but even this method cannot be regarded with
much favor, for there is no telling what type of
stalk the ear grew on, whether it was fertilized
from a barren stalk, or whether the type of parent
will be satisfactory. Selection to be successful
must commence with the individual plant and the
work must be done in the field in order that the
right type of ear shall be chosen, and in order
that the ear chosen, from all outward appearances
at least, shall have the qualities which it is desired
ffeperpetuate. It is possible tor influence a variety
of corn in a comparatively short time, as the plant
yields to selection remarkably well.
Selecting the Stalk.
A definite idea must be in mind before selection
is undertaken, and what may suit one may not be
at all suitable to another. For instance, if one
were selecting corn for river bottoms, a larger ear
and stalk could be permitted than on thinner up
lands, though it is undesirable in any case to select
for very large ears and stalks. A better method
would be to select a variety of corn having a fair
number of leaves unless intended for silage pur
poses, when a large amount of leaf would be de
sirable. Care should be taken to select from va
rieties that do not show a large number of suck
ers, as tnese simply draw on the food supply of the
soil without increasing the yield, and as they are
low to the ground they can seldom be harvested.
A short, stout stalk is preferable to a large coarse
one, and a very tall variety should be avoided, as
it is hard to harvest, and breaks down badly' as
well. The large yieWcT corn obtained in the
North are due essentially to one thing, namely,
the closeness -or planting, and this is a matter
whic-should be carefully borne in mind in mak
. . . ' . . . -
ing selections, as corn tends to grow larger and
coarser the further South we go, this is a matter
that should receive primary attention, to select
from stalks of medium size and to follow this up
so systematically that the type of corn can be kept
uniform and suited to the conditions of soil and
climate under which it is grown.
Type of Stalk Controlled by Breeding.
The selection of the type of ear and stalk adapt
ed to local conditions is a matter of the greatest
importance, and in order that the right type be
chosen, a careful individual study must bemade
of the plants in the fields; and this study should
be made from the time the crop is started. The
importance of starting early in the season is due
to the striking individual characteristic of certain
plants throughout the field. These should be
marked and watched, for it is the exceptional
qualities developed in the individual that has made
it possible to achieve such wonderful things in the
breeding of horses, beef and dairy cattle; and the
principles in breeding plants are certainly anal
ogous. It is the individual possessed of peculiar
ly well developed inherent hereditary powers that
should be sought for a mother plant, for the mat
ter of vitality and vigorous reproduction is a most
important problem to the corn grower. Other de
sirable qualities of the corn plant may be affected
by selection; for instance, the planting of-the ear
so as to bring it closer to the ground may be
brought about. The length of the shank to which
the ear is attached can be changed, as well as the
position of the ear. With these facts in mind, and
a clear perception that man has a mastery over
corn and can adapt it to his will, the problem of
selection becomes a matter of greater interest and
concern to the farmer, for it is a simple process,
requiring but comparatively little time to effect
these changes so worthy of consideration. It is
also a most fascinating study,
How to Breed a Good Typo of Ear
If one desires a prolific variety of corn, selection
must be made from the stalks producing two or
more ears. As to type of ear to select, that will
depend a good deal on the variety and the condi
tions under which the corn is to be grown. One
or more medium-sized ears per stalk with a small
cob will out-yield one very large ear. It is not
desirable to develop coarseness in either plants or
animals. Select only ears that are well silked and
have a good covering of husk coming well over
the tip. Too much husk is objectionable, as it is
an indication of coarseness. The shank bearing
the ear should be short, and not over an inch to an
inch and a half in diameter. The ears should point
downwards so they will shed the water better. The
number of rows to select per ear will vary greatly
with the variety, but the standard should be from
16 to 2 4. In some varieties the number will run
down as low as 12, but it is desirable to get it up
to 16'as nearly as possible. The rows on the cob
should be as nearly straight as possible and the
grains should be even in length and character
from end to end of the ear. The cob should be
perfectly straight and of uniform size and not
tapering off at the end, as is so often the case, for
when that happens the grains will likely be deep
at the butt and shallow at the tip. In such form
they do not go through the planter uniformly, nor
will they have the size and bulk of grains uni
formly developed. The grain itself should be rath
er a wedge shape and long rather than broad, but
not too long. With a white corn the cob should
be white and the grain flinty in texture, with a
large and well-developed germ. In a yellow corn
the same qualities as to. type of grains should be
sought. The tip and butt of the ear should be
well covered, the grain on the butt coming down
close around the shank. In bad seasons this is not
a matter of such great importance, for sometimes
a drought may affect the pollination of .the silks
and prevent all of them from developing perfect
grains. It is important in the selection of a tvDe
of ear which is to be standardized that an ideal
be clearly fixed in the mind and kept definitely
in view for all time in the future. In fact, it would
be well to preserve some of the type ears from the
first selection if they reach the breeder's ideal and
keep others from one year's selection for reference.
It is also important that the rows of corn on the
ear be uniform, and that none of them squeeze
out, as it were.
When and How to Make Selection.
Having decided oh the type of ear. so through
the corn-field early in the season, as already indi-
catea, and pick out the plants which seem to show
special vigor and which are apparently fertilized
by the pollen from neighboring plants of desirable
quality, n any of the stalks and ears fail to de
velop satisfactorily, discard them, and as soon as
the corn begins to ripen, go to the field with sacks
ana pick out the ears from desirable stalks that
most nearly approach the type in mind, carrv these.
to the house or barn and put them safely away in
rat-proot cages. They should be placed on open
siats after shucking so as to dry uniformlv. Ear&
taken from each plant should be carefully labelled,
ior tnese are to provide the grain for the seed
patch next season. When the weather becomes
cool store the corn so that it will keep at a uni-
lorm temperature and not be subjected to damp
weather or to violent freezes. 4 "
A Idttle Study of a Grain of Corn.
'After testing the vitality, the protein content of
by taking a few grains from each and cutting them
open 'cross-wise and length-wise. The size of the
germ and , the amount of flinty matter will deter
mine quite accurately whether the grain is high
or low in protein. . If there is a large amount of
starch it is evident that the grain is comparatively
low in protein; if there is a small amount of starch
the reverse is true. With these facts in mind, it
is easy to develop a strain of corn high in protein
and low in starch; or high in starch and low in
protein; Or high in protein and oil, as the case may
be, for the oil is all obtained from the germ, and
grains should be selected that have large, vigorous
germs where a high oil-content is the object in
view. It is quite possible by selecting for an in
crease or decrease, of protein to balance up the
corn and make it much more satisfactory as a
grain food for cattle or horses than is often the
case at the present time.
ANDREW M. SOULE,
Virginia Experiment Station.
II.:
HIGHER YIELD OF SHELLED GRAIN PER
ACRE.
This is the Aim Which Should Guide You in Se
lecting and Breeding Your Corn.
MessrsEditors: In the improvement of corn
by seed selection an endeavor should be made to
start with the best variety as ascertained by actual
tests in the I field through a suflicient number of
years to eliminate weather conditions. It must be
borne in mind, however, that in all plant improve
ment the same principles and practices that have
been employed with such striking results in the
improvement of the different breeds of animals
must be followed.
For Corn there are three general methods of
improvement: First,: by importation of seed from
some reputable breeder or grower; second, by
careful selection of seed corn from one's own field
or from a neighbor's; third, by careful selection
and growing of seed, corn in a field isolated some
thing like four or five hundred yards from any
other corn field. i,
Characteristics to be Sought After.
The characters that should be taken into ac
count in the improvement of corn by selection are:
(1) Selection of ears from stalk standing: in the
field bearing two or ijjore ears, as it has been dem
onstrated, time and? again that a variety that bears
two medium-sized ears per stalk will generally
give higher yields .of shelled corn per acre than a
variety bearing one large ear to the stalk.
(2) The stalk should be large at the base and
tapering gradually towards the tassel, for two rea
sons: First, because it will be better enabled to
withstand' drought, and, second, because it will
stand up better in wind storms.
(3) The ears should by all means be of a cylin
drical form, with 1 both butts and' tips filled out,
as this is the form that gives the highest percent
age of yield of shelled corn per ear, other things
being equal. . ' ' ?
04) The best-shapM kernel is a medium wedge,
as this fills out the space on the cob most com
pletely. Also, the distance between the rows of
grains should be small, while the number of rows
should be large and run parallel the full length of
the cob, with little or no diminution in size, either
at the butts or tips. The percentage of grain
should be from 80 to 90, and should be held rigid
ly by the cob. It should also possess a high (90
to 95 per cent) germinating power and great re
sisting power to disease and insect ravages.
It should be kept: clearly in mind that, with va
rieties of corn, selection should be made from the
field and performed particularly with reference to
total yield of shelled corn and the character which
tend to give this and an improved quality of grains.
If it is to be used in feeding growing animals, or
to be ground' into meal for human consumption, it
should be high in flesh and muscle-forming ma terial
(protein); i(fbr fattening stock, high in fat,
and if to manufacture whiskey, alcohol or starch,
high in starch, sugar, etc., (carbohydrates).
Barn Selection.
This method is largely used in this State. Tt
leads to better results than no selection at all, but
is far inferior to selecting the seed from the field
in the fall after the maturity of the corn. One
great advantage of field selection or barn-selection
is that proper weight can be given to the charac
ter of the stalk, its prolificacy of seeded corn, etc.,
can be given. In barn selection, it is usually the
larger ears that are selected for planting purposes,
and these are not the best ears generally for seed.
This method of seed-corn selection is largely re
sponsible for the larger number of one-eared va
rieties we have in the South.
C. B. WILLIAMS,
Director North Carolina Experiment Stjapon.
, III. -
.-"'.if":"" "
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR COTTOX.
Select Your Seed Now From Best and Most Fruit
ful Stalks, Those That Bear the Biggest Yield
of Lint. : ' ' .
s i ; !,-....... -v
Messrs. Editors-1 As with other crops, the prop
er place -to select seed of cotton for next year's
planting is in the field, selecting from those stalks
that have a .hardy,;. vigorous growth, a large num
ber of large; well-matured bolls and that bear the
greatest amount of lint cotton per stalk.
Select Most Prolific Stalks.
By selecting seed only from heavy yielding
stalks the tendency will be of plants grown from
such seed to produce greatly increased crops over
the average of a patch planted from seed select
ed in the common way. -Means should be de-
I (Continued on Page 3.)