342 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



tend to reduce the vitality of the corn. See figs. 1 and 2. Years of 

 ex[ierience are proving that tlie men who have produced the largest yields 

 and the most valuable breeds of corn, are those who have exercised a 

 large degree of care in the selection and handling of the seed. 



This circular has been i)repared for the purpose of setting forth some 

 of the most important points in the selection and handling of seed corn. 



SELECTION. 



In Michigan corn is grown both for grain and fodder. It becomes 

 inijiortant, therefore, in the selection of seed to consider the stalk from 

 which the ear is selected, as well as the ear itself. Hence, the ear 

 should be selected while it still remains upon the standing stalk. The 

 stalk from which- the ear is selected should be of good size with a con- 

 siderable amount of foliage. 



[3^;^FiG. 2. — Therplants from 15,best ears selected from crib in spring 1908, in germinator test-.ta SJj 



Position of the Ear. — 



The jjosition of the ear (»n the stalk should be considered. It should 

 not be too high, for it is claimed that the higliVr the ear, the later .it 

 matures. Moreover, the weight of the high growing ear increases the 

 tendency of the stalk to fall in stormy weather. The ear should not 

 be too low for there is then danger of its being knocked otf by the 

 harvester. 



Keceut experiments seem to indicate that the location of the ear on 

 the stalk can be controlled hy the careful selection of seed ears properly 

 k)cated on the mother jjlaiit. The ears should have a pendant attitude, 

 for if they stand erect liiins are a])t to beat in upon the tips between 

 the husks, and result in molding the grain. 



