Vol. XIII. No. 32^). 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



.389 



INDIAN CORN. 



SELECTION OF SEED CORN IN 

 THE FIELD. 



At the present time, there are, probably, on many 

 estates in tlie West Indies, fields of Indian corn just coming 

 to maturity, and it is likely that from the plants now stan<l- 

 ing in these fields the seed for planting during the coming 

 season will be selected. 



The matter of selection of seed corn is one which has in 

 the ijast received from planters far less attention than it 

 deserves, since this operation has a very important bearing 

 on the success of the crop as a whole. 



At the present time it would probably be the best plan 

 for the planter to undertake a simple form of seed selection, 

 leaving the technical forms of plant breeding for a time when 

 he has made some improvement in the strain of corn cultiva- 

 tion, and desires to carry it further. 



In the first place, emphasis ought to be strongly laid 

 on two points: (a) the first selection ought to be done in 

 the field, and should be made on consideration <3f field 

 characters of the plant, anfl (b) the corn should be husked, 

 and fnrther selected on the basis of the characters of the 

 ear and grain. 



The ficUI characters include the following, which should 

 be considered in making tlie first selection: size and growth 

 of the plant, number and size of ears, the husk, the shank, 

 and the position and attitude of the ear on the plant. 



Seed ears shoidd be selected from average size 

 plants showing normal growth. Stunted and overgrown 

 plants are alike uncertain as parents, since they do not 

 give a clear indication as to what they may do in normal 

 conditions. 



The number and size of the ears on a stalk are impor- 

 tant; one large ear may give more Corn than two smaller 

 ones, but in general it will probal)ly be found not to be so. 

 Two average ears per plant should give better results than 

 single ears, and this point should be carefully proved. All 

 ears from two-ear stalks should he kept separate, and 

 planters woulil do well to make trials of planting them 

 separately, so as to ascertain for themselves how the yields 

 coijipare. 



The husk should completely cover the tip of the ear 

 when fully ripe, and the shank should be slender and 

 long enough to allow the ripened ear to bend over, and also to 

 afford a good grip of the hand as a help in breaking it off 

 clean at the butt of the ear when the corn is being harvested. 

 The ear or ears should not be too high on the plant, as 

 this sometimes results in the latter being blown" over as the 

 ripening ears become heavy, and the root system loses some of 

 its strength. The ears should bend over .somewhat, so that rain- 

 water may not jjenetrate into the tip, especially when the 

 husk has been injured by insects, and so cause rotting and 

 premature germination before harvesting. At the same time 

 the ears should not liend over far enough to touch the 

 ground. 



The ear and grain characters c^ only be determined 

 after the corn is husked. A good seed ear should be of 

 average length, with straight rows running from butt to tip. 

 The tip should lie well tilled out. The number of rows may 

 vary in different ears, but planters would do well to decide as 

 to the nundser desired, and select for that number, or at least 

 keep very near it. 



The proportion of cob to grain" is important; a large cob 

 may bear proportionately a large amount of corn, and in such 

 case it is justified; but a large cob in an ear giving a S7nall 

 proportion of corn is an undesirable character. 



Similarly with the size, shape, and colour of the kernels 

 on the ear; these will be found to vary in any field of corn, 

 and especially where little careful selection has been practise<l. 

 If however the planter decides that he will grow a corn with 

 long narrow kernels, or with broad short kernels, he should 

 select his seed with reference to these points year after year. 

 Also the colour of the Corn varies in the West Indies. If it 

 is decided to develop a light-coloured corn, light corn should 

 be selected, and if a dark, or red corn as it is called, is the 

 object aimed at, dark seed should be planted. 



It will be seen at a glance that the field selection should 

 include nnich more corn than will be wanted for planting, 

 since the later examination will, in all probability, result in 

 a considerable proportion being rejected. 



It must always be remembered that yield and profit ai-e 

 the two points to be considered, and that all selection and 

 cultivation must have these continually in view; but it should 

 at the .same time be held in mind that uniformity is one of 

 the principal factors to be considered. Uniformity of plants 

 in size and rate of growth, in the bearing of ears, their posi- 

 tion and habit of growth, are important field characters; while 

 in a good market, uniformity in the size, shape, and colour 

 of the kernels has an important bearing on the value of 

 the grain. 



Much importance attaches to continuity and adherence 

 to the initial plan in seed selection. The tj'pe chosen as the 

 one to be propagated and fi.xed should l;>e borne in mind at 

 every selection, season after season. If for any reason it 

 is found desirable to change, it must be realized that a new 

 system starts from the time the change is made. Fnjm 

 this it will readily be seen that the matter of selection should 

 have most careful thought from the very beginning, in order 

 that the first object aimed at in the selection be good enough 

 to warrant a continued striving for that object year after 

 year. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. VINCENT. At a meeting of the Agricultural and Com- 

 mercial Society, on November 11, His Honour the Adminis- 

 trator addressed the members on the present agricultural situa- 

 tion and future prospects of agriculture in the Colony. As 

 both cotton and arrowroot have been adversely affected by the 

 war, a partial substitution of other crops was suggested. It 

 was recommended that where suitable mills exist for the 

 manufacture of g(iod muscovado sugar, sugar-cane should be 

 planted up to the full capacity of the mills, because for two 

 or three years at least a fair profit might be expected. The 

 extended growth of other crops, such as cassava, maize, 

 ground nuts, peas, beans, and ground provisions was also 

 discussed. From the report of the Agricultural Superinten- 

 dent it would seem that there is a revival of interest in sugar- 

 cane cultivation, 1,800 cane cuttings having being recently 

 distributed from the Experiment Station. Three cases of 

 anthrax have been notified in St. Vincent —oi.e in August, 

 ajid two in October. 



VIRGIN ISL.\NDS. The protracted drought at last seems 

 to have broken. Refreshing showers have been recorded in 

 October. The distribution of economic plants from the 

 Experiment Station continues, especially limes, coco-nuts, 

 and onions. During the first half-month of the working of 

 the Cotton Factory, 35 liales of 220 lb. each were received. 

 The area under cultivation in sweet potatoes has been much 

 increased. The attacks of the leaf-blister mite have beeii more 

 prevalent; diseased plants are being cut out and destroyed, to 

 prevent further infestation. 



