TiiK l>ir>i.i;ri\. :i;j 



decreased yield ol' llic |)lal sown in hiitl ami lip i^raiiis was due to the 

 seed, as all oilier condiiidns wci'c as ucai'ly idciilical for hoth as it 

 was jDossible to secure. 



AVIirrK \'KIfRUS YELLOW CORXS. 



The Department in its experiments, has gotten hii>lier yiehls 

 of shelled eorn per acre from the white than from the yellow varieties 

 of corn. This greater yield may be due to the fact that the Southern 

 jieople, being partial, as a general rul(% to white corns, have improved 

 them more than they have the yellow varieties. From the stand- 

 point of chemical composition, the yellow corns are no richer in feed- 

 ing value than the white ones, which fact is contrary to a common 

 belief pre\'alent in this and other States. The only difference in the 

 two is that there is a small amount of coloring matter present in the 

 kernels of the yellow corn which is not found in the kernels of white 

 varieties. 



RELATION OF CIIARACTEKS. 



One of the purposes of the detailed study of varieties of corn by the 

 Department has been to ascertain what characters of this cereal, 

 being mutually helpful, and hence conducive to higher yields, may 

 be expected to be found combined in the same plant or group (varie- 

 ties) of plants, and what ones, being generally antagonistic to each 

 other, seldom or never occur in the same plant or group of plants. 

 This knowledge is highly essential in the development and improve- 

 ment of corn as well as all other agricultural crops. For if one is 

 familiar with these fundamental facts he will be better enabled to 

 originate, improve and select varieties best suited to his local condi- 

 tions and purposes in the least -period of time and with a minimum 

 of disappointments. As an ayerage of the results of the past three 

 years' work, supplemented by field observations, the tentative gen- 

 eral inferences that follow are made with reference to the varieties 

 of corn studied when grown under conditions of soil and climate as 

 represented by North Carolina. 



Antagonistic Characters. 



(^) Farliness in maturity, other things bein^- equal, does not gen- 

 erally tend to large yields of gTain and stover, nor to high stalks 

 and ears. (2) Large-eared varieties usually have a relatively low 

 percentage of grain to cob and are as a ride less productive of shelled 

 corn per acre, when grown under our couditions. (3) Ears with 

 very small cobs have poorly-shaped kernels as a rule 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. 



