128 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



general demand for a method of corn improvement that would prove 

 profitable. Our corn investigators in 1901 took up work under 

 different environmental conditions to determine methods of corn 

 improvement that would give profitable results. Methods of corn 

 breeding and seed selection have been pursued during the past 12 

 3^ears at these points with results proving that judicious breeding 

 makes possible the production of much more profitable corn crops 

 than can be otherwise obtained. 



The methods of breeding that have proved most satisfactory are 

 those that have been modified from time to time to suit the changing 

 requirements of the' strain of corn and its adaptation to its environ- 

 ment. It has not been by established methods, but by the constant 

 exercise of good judgment that substantial and profitable improve- 

 ments have been accomplished. 



These demonstrations under various environments that by seed 

 selection alone various varieties of corn can be rendered 25 or 50 

 per cent more productive, are serving to start corn-improvement 

 work in many counties. Local features are so largely involved that 

 much of the work must be accomplished by local enterprise, and 

 where the possibility of substantial results has been demonstrated 

 local enterprise is taking hold of the work so enthusiasticallj'^ that 

 the department has had more calls for leaders, plans of operation, 

 and solutions of corn problems than it has been possible to supply. 



The past year's work has added further proof that some of the 

 many imported strains of corn having diverse characters and adapta- 

 tions are proving of great value in localities in which their peculiar 

 adaptations of drought or insect resistance are needed. 



Because of its intrinsic value the corn crop is rapidly becoming 

 linked with nearly all the leading enterprises of our country. It is 

 now more than a question of growing corn. There are questions 

 of kind and quality and methods of utilization to be considered from 

 hj^gienic as well as financial viewpoints. 



The demonstrations that have proved that profits are greatly 

 increased by the application of methods of corn breeding, seed selec- 

 tion, seed preservation, judicious crossbreeding, etc.. have returned 

 financial values far in excess of the cost of making the demonstrations. 



RESULTS or THE TOBACCO INVESTIGATIONS. 



In the tobacco work, which was inaugurated in 1898, it was ap- 

 parent from the outset that the average yield and profit per acre from 

 this crop were comparatively small, and it was found that this con- 

 dition was due primarily to the growing of mixed and undesirable 

 types, failure to follow sound cultural methods, particularly in the 

 matter of crop rotation and fertilization, damage to the crop from 



