326 Missow'i Agricultural Report. 



acre, from the fact that did I not have them removed I must neces- 

 sarily plant considerable thinner on the ground, or suffer the ill 

 effects of having too thick a stand after the suckers had developed. 

 Although there are other items worthy our consideration, we 

 will at this time let this suffice on the "Field Treatment of the Corn 

 Crop." 



METHODS AND DIFFICULTIES OF CORN BREEDING. 



(O. p. Hartley, In Charge of Ooru Investigation, U. S. Department of Agriculture) 



At this stage of advancement in corn breeding work it is hardly 

 necessary for one to speak to an audience of this kind regarding 

 the advisability of improving strains of corn. Most of us have wit- 

 nessed a number of times the great advantage derived from the 

 planting of improved strains. We have passed the degree where 

 it is necessary to argue the advisability of breeding more productive 

 and more uniform strains of corn for different sections of our coun- 

 try. We know it is our privilege and our duty to produce these 

 strains, and are face to face with the question as to the best, sim- 

 plest and quickest means of obtaining the results. 



Plant breeders have rapidly reached the ground now held by 

 animal breeders and know that our advancement depends upon our 

 ability to find desirable individuals that will transmit to a high 

 degree desirable characters. As the most valuable point in connec- 

 tion with corn improvement is the increasing of the production per 

 acre, we can see that the principal point in connection with this 

 work is the finding of individual ears of high producing power. 

 There are other points that can at the same time be kept in mind, 

 such as the improvement in appearance and fixing of the type, but 

 even these are easily accomplished and of minor importance in 

 comparison with the leading point just mentioned. The fixing of 

 a type of corn is comparatively an easy matter. The production of 

 a highly productive and well acclimated strain is more difficult. 

 Fortunately, the two can be accomplished at the same time, but 

 whenever it comes to a choice between a typical ear and ear of 

 great producing capacity, the latter should always be chosen. 



Various schemes and systems in regard to the order In which 

 the pedigree ears are planted in the breeding plat can be devised, 

 and many of them are very good methods. Some are too complex 

 except for experienced experimenters to undertake, and the rea- 

 sons for the need of such complexity are in some cases founded on 

 theories that have not yet been demonstrated. 



