Com Groivers' Association. 331 



they need be. The germination test, if properly conducted, will 

 greatly improve them. I think that a quite common mistake is to 

 conduct the test under very much more favorable conditions, es- 

 pecially as regards temperature, than obtain in the field, and as a 

 result we get much better germination in the box than we get later 

 in the field. We would get better results, if we conducted the test 

 under more rigorous conditions. 



There has been a tendency in the past, I fear, to expect most 

 too much from the germination test. It will pick out ears which 

 have been impaired by unfavorable treatment, but I doubt very 

 much whether it will pick out ears of hereditary merit. We have 

 not as yet tested this matter long enough to have much to say 

 about it, but the indications are that the germination box reveals 

 little, save the sort of care the seed corn has received. 



As I pass from the consideration of selection as a means of se- 

 curing ears of corn of hereditary, value, let me say, gentlemen, that 

 all the improvement in the heredity of corn of any particular 

 moment which has been secured up to the present time has come 

 from simple, though careful, selection. We have been "sizing" up 

 corn much, as the dairymen in times past has sized up the dairy 

 cow. We have both been looking for "signs." The invention of 

 Dr. Babcock has done away with the necessity for depending solely 

 upon signs on the part of the dairyman, and, thanks to Dr. Hop- 

 kins of Illinois, the corn grower now seems to have something more 

 sure than signs to guide him in his search for superior corn 

 plants, viz. : 



THE EAR-ROW TEST. 



This test consists in comparing the productiveness of a num- 

 ber of ears of corn grown side by side, an ear, or part of an ear, 

 being planted upon each row. I hardly expect I need take any 

 more of your time in explaining what the ear-row test is. At a 

 meeting of this character, doubtless, all present are familiar with 

 it. Suffice it to say, it is the relative standing of the ears tested 

 that is of moment. Actual yields depend upon environment, and 

 go and come accordingly; comparative yields depend upon heredity. 



DUPLICATION OF TEST. 



I should possibly call your attention to what I believe to be 

 a desirable way of conducting this test, viz. : the dividing of the 

 seed available from each ear which is to be tested into two parts, 

 and the planting of two widely separated, though shorter rows, 



