THE SEED-CORN SITUATION. i 



A variety, a nativ(^ of Sal)ina, Oliio, was taken 50 miles nortli uihI 

 grown for five years at Sunbury, Ohio. Equivalent lots of Sabina- 

 grown seed and Sunbnry-grown seed were then tested at both points. 

 At Sabina the Sabiiia-f2:rown seed i)r()(luce(l better by 47 per cent. 

 At Sunbury tlie Sunbury-grown seed })roduced better by 11 per 

 cent. Acclimatization and a(lai)tation alone can account for these 

 dilFerences, and in this case the acclimatization and adaptation to 

 Sunbury conditions had been brought a])out in five years. "By 

 being grown five years at Sunbury the variety had become adapted 

 to Sunbury conditions and at the same time had lost its adaptation 

 to Sabina conditions. The same variety constantly grown under 

 Sabina conditions retained its adaptation to Sabina conditions. 



To make certain of always obtaining tlie greater productiveness of 

 adapted varieties it is necessary to save sufficient seed for two or 

 three years' planting. In locahties where extreme weather conditions 

 may make the corn crop an entire failure tliis practice is of the 

 utmost importance. It is plainly impossible to acclimate and adapt 

 varieties if all seed is destroyed occasionally, making new importations 

 of seed necessary. There are occasional instances in which imported 

 seed produces better than home-grown seed. Such cases are experi- 

 ence(l especially in the Southern States, where dry summers permit 

 early-maturing northern-grown varieties to escape the summer 

 drought. For this reason northern-grown seed is preferred in some 

 sections. A better practice would be to select and acclimatize 

 an earlier maturing variety. It would then escape the summer 

 droughts and by becoming acclimated and adapted would produce 

 better than imported seed. 



RETENTION OF SUFFICIENT SEED FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS' PLANTING. 



Even in sections where the corn crop is not likely to be an entire 

 failure it is advisable during good corn seasons to retain sufficient 

 seed for two or three years' ] Wanting. Careful tests have shown that 

 seed that grew under favorable conditions is more productive than 

 seed of exactly the same strain grown under unfavorable conditions. 

 The greatest hindrance to corn breeding in some localities is the 

 dissimilarity of seasons. The corn plant is exceedingly adaptive, 

 but occasional wet seasons prevent a strain from adai)ting itself to 

 droughty conditions and occasional dry seasons prevent acclimati- 

 zation and adaptation to humid conditions. If the corn is poor in 

 quality because of an unusually dry or an unusually wet season, no 

 seed should be saved and that grown during a more normal season 

 should be planted. 



A mistaken idea prevails regarding the "running out" of com 

 because it has been grown too long in a locality. A strain of corn 



[Cir. 05] 



