190 BOAKD OF AGTtlCULTUKK. 



Now, about shipping your corn. Let me advise you to be sure and 

 wrap each ear securely and pack them closely in a box so they can not 

 move about in transit and lose any part of the grains, and be received 

 in lirst-class condition. As 1 said at the beginning, ship either to us 

 direct or to Commissioner Stevens at the State House. All collections 

 should be sent in l)y the first of February. \ou see you will have to 

 use last year's growth, as the show will be over before the next j'ear's 

 crop. 



Mr. Overstreet and I have the management of the special corn and 

 agricultural exhibit, and the two are practically put together. Bear in 

 mind that the success of Indiana's exhibit depends upon what each 

 farmer is going to do. If every farmer and every agent selected should 

 make up his mind to make a good sliowing, I assure you Illinois would 

 not stand much of a chance. It would be a good thing for the agents 

 to go to a man's corn crib and get the corn himself in order that our ex- 

 hibit be a good one, if the farmer is not interested in the work himself. 



SOME THINGS WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE ATTENTION IN CORN 



BREEDING. 



PROP. A. T. WIANCKO. 



The subject of corn improvement has been so often and so thor- 

 oughly discussed in the past few years that I do not expect to say any- 

 tliiug which tlie members of this Association have not already heard or 

 read about. But the subject is one of such far reaching importance that it 

 AVill bear repetition. 



I take it for granted that every member feels a personal fnterest in 

 corn improvement, and wishes, himself, to do some work along this 

 line. With this understanding, I wish to spend a few minutes at my 

 disposal this morning in speaking of some of the points the beginner in 

 corn breeding work must consider and always keep in sight. 



First, I would say, begin your breeding upon a small scale. I would 

 emphasize this because you can give a small plat more careful attention, 

 and it is better to make a big improvement in a small lot of corn than 

 a small improvement iu a large lot. A small plat planted with the few- 

 very best ears will produce enough to provide a fine quality of seed corn 

 for the general crop the following season. 



To begin with you should secure a few good ears of the very best 

 variety for your conditions. If you have not already got it, it may be 

 advisable to conduct a small variety test of those varieties which ap- 

 pear to suit your conditions. 



In this preliminary work the varieties should be planted side by side 



