570 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



After these twenty-five best ears have been selected, sort over the 

 remaining ears and preserve a sufficient number of the best to plant the 

 general crop in 1911. 



191 1 operations. The twenty-five best ears selected the preceding 

 year should be shelled together in sacks numbered from i to 25, the 

 poorly formed apical and basal kernels being discarded. This year the 

 isolated test plat should be planted as in 1909, of fifty rows twenty- 

 five hills long; rows i and 26 being planted from ear i in bag i, rows 2 

 and 27 with seed from ear 2 in bag 2, and so on. The portion of the seed 

 of each of the twenty-five cars not planted should be retained as in 1909, 

 for planting a seed plat in 191 2. 



When this plat matures in the fall, the product of the progeny from 

 each ear being in two rows in each case, should be weighed up and the 

 separate progenies- carefully judged, the eight or ten best being deter- 

 mined as in 1909. After which a quantity of the best ears are selected 

 to plant the general crop in 191 2. 



The general crop in this year, 191 1, should be planted with the second 

 select seed taken from the isolated plat of 1910. 



This method of selection it will be observed is a two-year method 

 which provides for selecting and testing the yield of the best twenty- 

 five ears the first season, and then the next year growing the select 

 seed, as determined by this test, in an isolated plat together so that 

 known good producers will be crossed with good producers. It provides 

 each year for taking seed corn for the general crop from an isolated 

 plat where only highly select ears have been planted. 



The only element contained in this method which is not also contained 

 in the first method suggested, is the growing of a portion of the seed 

 of the select ears one year in numbered rows and testing their trans- 

 mitting power, so that when the isolated patch the second year is planted, 

 it will be with seed of ears of tested producing power. This second method 

 is rather more complex than the first method but it is still simple and 

 is doubtless preferable where growers will take the tiine to carry it out. 

 Either of these two methods, however, v/ill certainly give desirable results 

 and may be unhesitatingly recommended the writer believes for the 

 general use of corn growers in the State. 



