148 



Bulletin 251. 



been said above applies to dent varieties which in general are the high- 

 est yielders, but which recjuire a rather longer season in which to mature. 

 There are several varieties and strains of dent corn which are grown 

 locally in different parts of New York for seed and satisfactory dent varie- 

 ties for all of the corn-growing sections of the State can doubtless be 

 produced. The breeder should above all start with a strain which he 

 knows to be a high yielding type. If he knows of no such type which is 

 fairly well suited to his section he should probably obtain seed of several 

 varieties which appear promising, and test their yield on his farm. He 

 may find it desirable to consult the Experiment Station regarding varieties 

 and such information as possible will be freely given. It may be stated 

 that in general, Pride-of-the-North or some selected strain of this variety, 

 such as Minnesota No. 13, appears to be one of the most promising dent 



Fig. 138. — .4, Kerne! of proper shape. 

 />', Round kernel. C, Square kernel, 

 From " Exa)nining and Grading 

 Grains." 



Fig. 139. — A. Kernels fitting closely 

 from crown to tip. B, Kernels 

 pointed on narrozv side. From "Ex- 

 aming and Grading Grains." 



varieties for the State (Fig. 140). The writer's experience, however, is 

 not yet sufficiently extensive so that he can recommend this variety to the 

 exclusion of others and it is very probable that no single variety can ever 

 be found which will prove to be superior in all sections of the State. If 

 the grower is cultivating a strain which has given him satisfactory results 

 it would be a good sort to breed regardless of whether or not it is a known 

 variety. 



The sort which the grower is going to use in his breeding having been 

 decided upon a field should be planted with the best available seed. If a 

 large (juantity of this corn is available the best possible ears should be 

 selected for planting seed and these planted by the ear-to-row method 

 used in planting the breeding plot as described below. A field of several 

 acres should be planted in order to furnish sufficient plants so that a good 

 selection can be made. This should be placed in a field where the soil is 

 as uniform as is possible to obtain. 



Making the first selection of corn. 



When the corn begins to rij^en the work of selection should begin. 

 In this State where carliness is so important the selections should be made 

 when the earliest stalks ripen and begin to dry. At this time the grower 

 can judge the degree of carliness quite accurately, and can limit his 



