200 AGRICLLTURli 01' MAl.XK. 



Interested in the seed problem, I want a rapid growing stalk 

 of fairly good length, — though 1 care more for leaf development 

 than for height, — stout and strong at the ground and tapering 

 to the spindle. The ear should be set not more than thirty inches 

 from the ground and I prefer twenty-four to twenty-six. Bear 

 in mind that the location of the ear on the stalk has a direct 

 relation to maturity, and it is an easy matter to extend or reduce 

 the time necessary for maturity when selecting ears for seed. 



I want one ear to a stalk, but I want one ear on every stalk, 

 and if the germinating power of the seed used is what it should 

 be, you should have very close to 20,000 stalks to the acre when 

 planted in rows three feet apart with four kernels every thirty- 

 six inches. When by selection and skill in growing we reach 

 this yield of one ear to a stalk, all previous records will be 

 broken. The man whose eye is fixed on two ears to a stalk is 

 very likely to overlook the skips all about him. 



One ear of 440 kernels gave me the past season. 430 stalks, 

 and 400 ears, large and small. As this row was the only one of 

 the breeding plat not detasseled, I shall rely upon it for seed 

 the coming season. Those who claim to grow three, four and 

 even six ears to a stalk, with every stalk carrying at least two 

 ears, are never seen at our corn shows. It's so much easier to 

 stay at home and tell what "I could have done." More atten- 

 tion should be paid the cob. I want a corn to mature its first 

 trace of seed ears in one hundred to one hundred and five days, 

 the cobs to be fully thirteen inches long, small, straight and even 

 throughout. For size it pleases me to break a cob less rather 

 than more than one-half inch in diameter. This is all eight- 

 row corn. On that cob I want 440 to 460 kernels, even, broad, 

 deep, close fitting at top and base, square an-l well rounded at 

 top, so that as the cob dries, one row may be crowded out a 

 little. Seeking the maximum of food nutrients ]:»er acre, many 

 seemingly trivial matters become of great importance. Years of 

 experience in breeding ex]Deriments convinces me that our great- 

 est mistake lies in selecting seed from the bin or at husking 

 time. In every field you can readily find two to five types indi- 

 cating the crosses made in establishing the variety and the con- 

 stant rebellion of nature against any attempted rigiditv of 

 methods. Two laws hold tenaciously, that of heredity and vari- 

 ation. Heredity is that law by which we attempt to fix specific 

 characteristics, and variation is that law bv which nature at- 



