LECTURES AND ESSAYS. 439 



bear nothing at all. Observe too, that we have 3,198 ears, or 30 per cent, 

 yielding only 2.34 ounces of grain each ; these ears are unmarketable and 

 certainly unprofitable. Add our barren stalks and these last unproductive 

 ones, and we have 5,227 stalks, or 48 per cent, that are practically of no 

 value. Consider, too, that as matter of fact a good many stalks produced 

 two ears each, and we will raise our percentage of unproductive stalks much 

 higher. Now, let us suppose that this farmer, by judicious selection, raises 

 the quality of ears produced to that of the 13 fair ears in our sample, or to 

 an average of 6.08 ounces of corn to each ear, his yield would then be 60 

 bushels per acre, an increase of 46 per cent. Suppose he should improve a 

 little further, and make each ear equal to the best ear of our sample, which 

 carried seven and one-half ounces of grain ; then he will harvest 74 bushels 

 per acre, again of 80£ per cent over the present crop of 41 bushels; but 

 this is with no increase in the number of ears. Now, we will suppose that 

 we have bred out the barren stalks, and that each one of 10,890 stalks pro- 

 duces one ear that yields seven ounces of grain, and we have a yield of 85 

 bushels per acre, or an increase of 107 per cent. In breeding out our 

 barren stalks we have at the same time been selecting towards more ears to 

 the stalk, and we may fairly suppose that one-half our stalks will yield two 

 ears each, and this with each stalk of the other half producing one ear 

 would give us 127^ bushels of shelled corn to the acre. These suppositions 

 are not exaggerations, they are within the range of probability, because 

 within the range of what has already been accomplished. These same results 

 can be realized on every farm in Jackson county. 



It is a demonstrated fact that in seed selection and breeding lies as 

 important a factor as any concerned in the prduction of profitable crops. 

 Thorough cultivation and high fertility are also important factors, but 

 alone, they cannot accomplish the best results. There is a limit to the 

 profitable application of manure and of labor in the growing of any crop; 

 beyond a certain point every bushel added to a crop by these means costs 

 more than it is worth. It costs no more to care for a good crop than for a 

 poor one. The foundation of a good crop is good seed. Therefore, the 

 farmer who would have the best possible crops, who would have the most 

 profitable returns for his labor and care, must consider all of the elements 

 of success, and give to each factor its due share of attention. 



HOW TO CKOSS INDIAN" CORN". 



The cross-fertilization of varieties of corn is easily accomplished. The 

 sexes being borne separately, that delicate manipulation required in crossing 

 hermaphrodite flowers of such small size as are those borne by the wheat 

 plant is not necessary. 



To cross two varieties, and be sure the cross is in the direction you wish, 

 pure seed of the varieties should be planted in contiguous rows, or, if in 

 quantity, in alternate rows, far enough removed from other corn to prevent 

 contamination from foreign pollen. As soon as flowering commences all 

 staminate flowers must be removed from the mother plants; this insures 

 the fertilization by pollen from the other variety which you have chosen 

 for the male parent. In choosing varieties to be crossed it is not best to use 

 those that present too great differences. Thus, no probable good would be 

 derived from crossing dent with flint corn — because characters so widely dif- 



