The Bulletin. 19 



years through careful selection witli a resulting tendency to further 

 increased yields over the original stock. It should be borne in mind 

 clearly, however, that by developing better shaped ears and kernels 

 of any variety, through seed selection persistently practiced through 

 a number of years, that only two of the many characters that con- 

 tribute to high yields are improved. The greatest underlying cause 

 of high yields, outside of environment, is a reasonable prolificacy; 

 and under the present average conditions of soil, fertilization, etc., 

 that obtain in this State, it is extremely doubtful if selection for a 

 yield greater than two ears per stalk is at all advisable. If too great 

 prolificacy is induced, it is quite likely to prove a decided disadvan- 

 tage when such corn is planted on poor land. 



Stalks. 



The kind of stalk from which to make selections is one free from 

 suckers and possessing a tolerably large circumference at the base 

 and gTadually tapering towards the top, as this is the type that stands 

 drought best and is not as apt to be blown down as a high, slender one. 

 In selection, weight should be attached to good root and leaf develop- 

 ment of the mother parent, as all nourishment and gTowth are largely 

 dependent upon the thoroughness with which these two organs do 

 their work. Poor root or leaf development is indicative of meager 

 growth and small, poorly-developed production. All selections should 

 be made from perfectly healthy plants. 



Ears. 



In selecting seed corn, care should be given to the following char- 

 acteristics of the ear : Position on stalk, kind of shank, shape and 

 color of grain and cob, size of cob, filling out of butts and tips, num- 

 ber of and distance between rows of kernels, and length and circum- 

 ference. 



Position on Stalk. — If all ears in a field are of approximately uni- 

 form height there is greater probability of complete fertilization of 

 all the grains of the ears than would be the case if some of the ears 

 were high up on the stalks, while others were comparatively near 

 the ground. An extremely high ear tends to late maturity, while one 

 very near the ground tends to ripen extra early ; hence, the stalks on 

 which such ears are borne will not make, as a general rule, a very 

 large gTowth. For the ears in a field to be completely fertilized or 

 pollenated, the silks of the ears should be ready to receive the falling 

 grains (dust-like particles) from the tassels as soon as they are given 

 off and disseminated by the wind. On the same plant, the silks 

 usually make their appearance from 4 to 5 days after the tassel. 



The position of ear on stalk should be at a medium height, for two 

 reasons : ( 1 ) because the stalk will be less liable to be blown down, 



