CORN growers' association. 89 



firm bacon which is demanded in the markets of Great Britain and 

 Continental Europe. 



The methods of corn breeding devised by the Illinois Experiment 

 Station and now used not only by us, but also by the Illinois Seed Corn 

 Breeders' Association, and, to some extent, by other Experiment Sta- 

 tions and other corn breeders, have for their object the improvement 

 of corn — in yield and in quality. In the main the methods are now the 

 same as we have employed for the past six years and they have given 

 results which enable us to assert with confidence that by these methods 

 corn can be improved in a very marked degree and for many different 

 purposes. The yield of corn can be increased, and the chemical com- 

 position of the kernel can be changed as may be desired, either to in- 

 crease or to decrease the protein, the oil, or the starch. 



Following is a brief description of the methods of corn breeding 

 which we practice and which we have recommended to others: 



PHYSICAL SELECTION OF SEED CORN. 



The most perfect ears obtainable of the variety of corn which it is 

 desired to breed should be selected. These ears should conform to 

 the desirable standards of this variety and should possess the principal 

 properties which belong to perfect ears of corn, so far as they are known 

 and as completely as it is possible to secure them. These physical char- 

 pcteristics and properties include the length, circumference, and shape 

 of the ear and of the cob ; the number of rows of kernels and the num- 

 ber of kernels in the row ; the weight and color of the grain and of the 

 cob; and the size and shape of the kernels. In making this selection 

 the breeder may have in his mind a perfect ear of corn and make the 

 physical selection of seed ears by simple inspection, or he may make 

 absolute counts and measurements and reduce the physical selection al- 

 most to an exact or mathematical basis. 



In this connection let me suggest that there is some danger of corn 

 breeders making too much of what might be called fancy points in select- 

 ing seed ears. We should learn the facts which are facts and not base 

 cur selections too much upon mere ideas and opinions. For example, 

 it is not known that ears whose tips are well filled and capped with 

 kernels are the best seed ears. Indeed it is not improbable that the selec- 

 tion of such seed ears will cause the production of shorter ears and a 

 reduced yield per acre. It is true that the percentage of shelled corn 

 from a given ear is the greater, the greater the proportion of corn to 

 the cob, but our interest in that percentage is very slight compared to 

 that of yield per acre, and perhaps for the greatest possible yield of 



