Cor7i Growers^ Association. 333 



to save double the amount of seed that is needed for the next year. 

 As one can not control all the conditions, it often happens that 

 floods or hail storms completely destroy the plats, and unless care 

 is taken to reserve seed, the entire labors of past years may be lost. 

 In this connection it is in place to state that corn breeding work is 

 a never-ending work, a work that must be continued from year to 

 year. If one is successful in producing a new orange, such as the 

 navel orange, or an improved grape or apple, he can rest knowing 

 that it will continue for years, but the improvement on a strain of 

 com may be lost in one year's time. The good results accomplished, 

 such as increased production, will not disappear completely in that 

 length of time, but if the strain is allowed to mix with undesirable 

 strains of corn the work of past years is ruined. 



One contemplating the breeding of corn must for safety count 

 upon some of his neighbors planting other kinds of corn just where 

 he would not have them planted, and even though he may have the 

 best corn in the section, and offer free of charge the seed to his 

 neighbors in order to prevent troublesome admixtures, there are 

 always neighbors who are of the opinion that from a distant State 

 they can obtain a better corn, and are desirous of demonstrating 

 their opinion by planting such a corn in a field adjacent to their 

 neighbor's breeding plat. 



It is the tendency of the corn plant, in common with other 

 plants, to adapt itself to its environment that makes it necessary 

 that corn breeding work be done in various sections, and it is this 

 same fact that makes it highly advisable that some of you be the 

 first to begin the improvement of a strain of corn for your section. 

 One of the principal inducements we have is the fact that the best 

 corns now in existence are those that have received greatest atten- 

 tion for the greatest length of time in the section for which they 

 are now so admirably adapted. Let no corn grower plant ordinary 

 seed, doing so with the belief that it is too much trouble to produce 

 good seed. In fact, it is too much trouble to plant any but the very 

 best of seed corn. It is too much trouble to plow, harrow, plant and 

 cultivate two acres in order to obtain eighty bushels of corn, when 

 with better seed that amount can be grown on one acre. Plant only 

 the best of seed. If you do not care to produce your seed, then 

 buy the very best. Unfortunately, in many sections of the country 

 at present the only way to get seed of best quality is to "breed it. 

 It is an opportunity for you to begin a profitable industry, as well 

 as an opportunity to become of immense value to all the corn grow- 

 ers of your neighborhood. 



