8 



The Bulletin. 



importation of Seed. 



Under no circumstances should farmers depend each year upon 

 importation for seed, as corn brought from a distance (where soil 

 and climatic conditions are different) seldom yields satisfactory 

 results until it has become thoroughly acclimated, which usually re- 

 quires from two to three years. The force of this statement is amply 

 illustrated in our experience with the best varieties of western and 

 northwestern corn. None of these have done extra well under J^orth 

 Carolina conditions the first year after importation, although they 



.9 10 11 



Fig. 3— Type ears of varieties: (9) Butler's Prolific ; (10) Square Deal: and (11) Brake's. 



are among the most prolific ones grown in the principal corn-growing 

 belt of the country. This further emphasizes the need in all variety 

 tests of as complete knowledge as possible of the conditions under 

 which the parent plants were grown ; especially should the locations be 

 known from whence all seed come, before one can properly interpret 

 varietal results, for if not acclimated, suppressed yield may be ex- 

 pected from this cause. 



The advantage of imported seed is that tiic farmer is frequently 

 enabled to begin im})rovement where some careful grower or skilled 

 plant-breeder has left off. It is here as with animals ; for if it is de- 



