8 The Bulletin. 



is very important to have seed of strong germinating powers in order 

 that the corn may start off vigorously, which will help to insure a 

 stand; third, because it is necessary to have a seed that will insure you 

 of getting com that is true to type. By selecting your own seed you are 

 getting a variety adapted to your own soil and climatic conditions. 

 These qualities can be obtained only by careful and systematic selection. 

 This selection must begin while the corn is still in the field and the 

 stalk is still green. To be at all certain as to the character of corn a 

 kernel is going to grow, you must know from what manner of plant that 

 kernel came. You must take into consideration the whole plant — the 

 stalk, the blades, the shank of the ear, the ear itself, the position of the 

 ear on the stalk, and the angle at which the ear hangs from the stalk. 



Before you succeed in corn selection you must have an ideal. Choose 

 the variety of corn you wish to gi'ow, then select an ideal for this 

 variety; and maintain this ideal throughout your selection of seed. 



Suppose, before you go into the field to make the selection that you 

 fix in your mind the qualities which you wish to find in the plants from 

 which you make your selection. You want a plant that shows adapta- 

 bility. That is, a plant that shows by its growth that it is well adapted 

 to the average soil conditions and that it does not mature too early or 

 too late. You want a plant that shows vigor. That is, a plant that 

 shows, by its sturdy upright growth, its well developed leaves and ears, 

 and its freedom from disease, plenty of strength and vigor. Also, you 

 want a plant to be of a proper height, say nine feet ; you want a plant to 

 have ears conform as nearly as possible to the ideal in weight, length, 

 circumference, and position on the stalk. Avoid all extremes in either 

 direction, both in the height of the plant and the position of the ears. 

 You want all the plants and ears to resemble each other as much as 

 possible in the manner of growth, i. e., adaptability, vigor, height of 

 plant, and height and angle and weight of ears; and you want these 

 plants to conform to the variety type. With this ideal before you, you 

 can start out to select your seed. Go through the field, row by row, 

 marking those stalks which come nearest your ideal, remembering that 

 if a desirable plant is anywhere near a barren stalk or one of decidedly 

 undesirable qualities to leave that plant unmarked, because it is in unde- 

 sirable company and has become contaminated. Then, returning, select 

 from these plants enough to give three times as much seed as you expect 

 to use. It will be well to take the very best plant and save the seed from 

 it to plant in a separate seed patch the next year, and for all future 

 crops to make the field selection from a seed patch. Then, after making 

 this selection and marking the plants so that they can be easily located, 

 leave them undisturbed until gathering time. Do not strip the fodder 

 or cut them for shocking as you do the remainder of the crop, but leave 

 them to fully mature before they are harvested. Store these ears in a 

 dry place where they will be kept at a fairly even temperature the 

 whole winter. In this selection remember that you want ears from 

 plants that are adapted to the average conditions and not from plants 

 from very rich or very poor spots. 



