SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 183 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CORN. 



The purpose of this Association is to encourage individual 

 methods of growing, urging always that skill be exercised and 

 the choicest product insured. Out of the consecutive work of 

 many the essential principles at the foundation of successful 

 corn growing will be established, something impossible if each 

 one attempts to follow one line of work. The aim should be 

 not only to increase the output, but above all else add to the 

 food value of plant and kernel, something far more difificult to 

 fix than growth of stalk, time of maturity, or gross yield. This 

 Association should insist upon the ten ear row test, or the plant- 

 ing of at least 200 kernels from ten selected ears, those from 

 each ear to cover one row, that more definite information may 

 be obtained regarding germination, strength, and vigor of stalk, 

 time of spindling, and tasselling, development and ripening of 

 ear, as well as total yield per row. Only by this method can 

 we approach systematic or uniform results. In this trial plat 

 we have the foundation for improved seed selection. Every 

 step taken must be carefully recorded if best results are to be 

 obtained. Each row should be watched, time of breaking 

 ground noted as well as date of planting, and number of stalks 

 per row recorded as well as growth and vigor of stalks. 



Later the set of ears must be noted as well as the total num- 

 ber at harvest time. Beyond this one must have a record of the 

 number of well filled ears on each row. Starting with a single 

 ear as the unit this record becomes of the greatest importance. 

 It will be necessary also that all weak stalks be detasselled and 

 only the more vigorous allowed to deposit pollen on the plat. 

 Provision should be made for at least three inspections by a 

 representative of the Association who should make record of 

 details hinted at and carefully inspect all plats, large or small, 

 from which seed is to be selected. As the conception of the 

 ideal ear of flint corn is still undecided, no attempt should be 



