The Bulletin. 2'.' 



or group of plants. Tliis knowledge is of the most fundamental im- 

 portance in the proper production of not only corn but all other agri- 

 cultural crops, as one being familiar with these facts will be better 

 enabled to originate, improve or select varieties best adapted to dif- 

 ferent localities, soils and purposes. It is also felt that a more correct 

 interpretation can be placed on the results obtained in variety tests. 



In Table IV are brought together the average results of the work 

 of three years (1903-'04-'05) at the Edgecombe and Iredell farms 

 separately. From a detailed study of this table, supplemented by 

 field observations, the following tentative inductions are made with 

 reference to varieties of corn studied when they are grown under con- 

 ditions of soil and climate as represented by these two farms. 



Antagonistic Characters. — (1) Earliness in maturity, other things 

 being equal, is not generally conducive to large yields of grain and 

 stover. (2) Large-eared varieties usually have a low percentage of 

 grain to cob and are as a rule less productive of shelled corn per acre. 

 (3) Ears with very small cob have poorly-shaped kernels and give a 

 small amount of shelled corn per ear, and vice versa. (4) Kernels 

 of low vitality do not tend to the growth of plants of maximum yields. 



Associated Characters. — (1) Earliness, other things being equal, 

 usually tends to high percentage of ear to stover, and vice versa, 

 although this ratio is more or less modified by season, soil, fertiliza- 

 tion and breeding. (2) Varieties producing two ears per stalk are 

 generally more productive of shelled corn per acre than those bear- 

 ing only one ear, although it may be a large one. (3) Medium 

 maturity, other things being equal, tends to increase yields per acre of 

 grain. (4) Small kernels usually possess low vitality. (5) Kernels 

 with small germs (chits) contain a small percentage of oil or fat. 

 (6) Varieties with good root and leaf development are usually the 

 most resistant ones to drought and disease and insect ravages. 



SELECTING SEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. 



In the improvement of corn by seed selection an endeavor should 

 be made to start with the best variety as ascertained by actual tests in 

 the field through a sufiicient number of years to eliminate weather 

 conditions. It must be borne in mind that in all plant improvement 

 the same principles and practices that have been employed with such 

 striking results in the improvement of the different breeds of animals 

 must be followed. 



For corn there are three general methods of improvement : First, 

 by importation of seed from some reputable breeder or grower ; second, 

 by the careful selection of seed corn from one's own field or from a 

 neighbor's ; third, by careful selection and growing of seed corn in a 

 field isolated something like four or five hundred yards from any 

 other corn-field. 



