EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 281 



the eye, between kernels of high and kernels of low protein. By select- 

 ing kernels of high protein content for seed, the average content has 

 been raised several per cent in experiments conducted for that purpose. 



FIXING CHARACTER. 



This is one of the most difficult things to accomplish, and it often 

 requires years of careful work. It requires, too, that the breeder have 

 very clearly in mind an ideal ear and that the ears he selects for seed 

 conform very closely to this ideal. 



One of the older and well-known breeds of corn is rather noted for 

 the number of eara it produces untrue to type. One Michigan breed 

 produces at the present time too great variation in style of ears and 

 of kernels. There is good reason to believe, however, that this varia- 

 tion both of ear and kernel can be greatly lessened and quite readily, 

 too. 



On the other hand other well-known breeds, w^hile they vary in size 

 because of climate and soil condition, appear to produce ears remark- 

 ably constant in general appearance as regards shape of ear, and color 

 and shape of kernel. 



THE IDEAL OR PERFECT EAR. 



It is not often found. It must possess certain physical qualities or 

 characters : 



1. Shape. In shape it should be cylindrical, or only slightly 

 tapering. The very tapering ear is being bred away from. The 

 rows should be straight, extending completely from butt to tip. 

 See Figs. 1 and 2. 



2. Color. The cobs should be red for yellow corn, white for 

 white corn, and red or white for the white caps as now bred, 

 but all red or all white. They should be white for flint corns. 



There should be no kernels present indicating by color or shape 

 that cross-pollenation from another breed had taken place. 



3. Tips. The tips should be well covered with kernels of uni- 

 form size, the rows remaining unbroken to the end. The ques- 

 tion as to whether the cob may not protrude slightly is an open 

 one. 



4. Butts. See Figs. 20 and 21. The butts should be well 

 rounded as shown in Fig. 20. The shank, or ear stalk should 

 equal about one-third the total diameter of the ear. 



5. Kernels. The kernels should be wedge shaped, so that 

 they shall fill completely all space between the circumference of 

 the ear and the circumference of the cob. See Figs. 22 and 23. 

 To examine kernels, remove two kernels side by side from the 

 cob, one-third or one-half the distance from butt to tip, and lay 

 them on some flat surface, germs up in the same relative posi- 

 tion they occupied on the cob. 



6. Length and circumference. At the present time the stan- 

 dards of the Michigan Corn Improvement Association are S^/o to 

 91/^ inches for length and the circumference must not be more 

 than 4-5 nor less than 3-4 the length of ear. The circumference 

 is measured one-thii'S the distance from butt to tip. 



36 



