Corn Groivers' Association. 215 



poorest, and some that we thought only common will surprise us 

 by being among our heaviest yielders. 



Now, the next thing in order is to arrange a chart of the plat, 

 that anything of importance may be noted on the chart. After 

 the corn has been planted two or three days it will be well to see 

 the plat every morning and it will be seen that certain rows will 

 be coming up much ahead of others. All the slow rows should be 

 marked on the chart, and mark them to be among the ones to be 

 detasseled. No breeding is desired from the plants that lack vigor, 

 neither should any seed be saved from such rows that are lacking 

 in vigor. 



It will also be noticed that certain rows grow and thrive much 

 better than others — a fact to be noted on the chart. Also it will be 

 noted that some rows seem to grow much taller than others, and 

 if the height becomes too great, that row also should be marked 

 for detasseling. 



As to the rows to be detasseled it is evident that that fact 

 cannot be determined until the work is about ready to be done. 

 Many seem to prefer to detassel alternate rows, and for certain 

 reasons that would be well, but in many cases a row intended to be 

 left as a sire will be found to be sadly wanting in the things most 

 desired in a sire. 



Others allow the ears at planting time to determine the rows 

 to be detasseled, but it is evident that that will not be best. 



It might be well to state that the object of taking the tassels 

 out of certain rows and stalks is to prevent undesirable breeding. 

 The pollen or dust from the tassel is the male element of the corn 

 plant, and the silk is female organ, and it is necessary that if the 

 elements come in contact that the grains may form. When the 

 tassel is removed from a corn plant it is the same as when the 

 knife is used in our live stock. In our herbs we take out the bad 

 individuals and thus prevent breeding from them, and the same 

 laws hold in our corn work, and the results will be just as gratify- 

 ing. 



The time for detasseling will now need to be considered. It 

 will need to be done as soon as the tassels begin to appear from 

 the blades, so if the pollen has become dry enough to fall it is 

 then too late, and the work will be of no consequence and perhaps 

 work an injury in the bargain. At best the detasseling may do 

 some harm to the yield as well as injure the growth of the plant, 

 as it is a wound and the plant is very likely to suffer to at least a 

 small degree on account of it, especially if the weather conditions 



