344 



the cloth sack, the date of applying the pollen, name of variety furnish- 

 ing the pollen, the result of the crossing, the date of inclosure of the 

 tassel in order to secure pollen, and the name of the variety fertilized 

 with this pollen. Descriptive notes on the 175 ears obtained as the 

 result of the crossing fill twenty-six pages. 



Crossed corn the second year (pp. 334-346). — Of the crosses obtained in 

 1888 (See Kansas Station Report for 1888, p. 310), the twenty-three ears 

 with sound kernels were planted April 4, 1889, in small adjacent plats, 

 so arranged "that the plants of contiguous plats discharged their pol- 

 len at different times, thereby lessening the chances of intermixing." 

 A list of the varieties from which the crosses were obtained is given, 

 together with descriptive notes on the growth of the corn from each oi 

 the crossed ears planted. 



In every case the effect of the cross could be plainly seen. This was true, both for 

 those which did not show and for those which did show the effect of the cross the 

 first year. In no case, therefore, did the ears exactly resemble either parent. The 

 cross resembled the one and sometimes the other parent more closely, with apparent 

 capriciousness. There were two well-marked types of variation, namely, (1) in 

 which the kernels on each ear were uniform, and (2) in which the kernels were more 

 or less variable ; but a few numbers were intermediate. Of those of type 1, the ma- 

 jority were intermediate between the parental varieties, but in many cases a few ears 

 could be found which were more like one or the other parent, and often showed little 

 influence of the cross. * » * Of those of type 2, some ears were nearly uniform, 

 while others varied considerably. In some cases kernels almost like one or the other 

 parent constituted the bulk of the ear, while the strictly intermediate ones formed 

 but a small proportion. • • • 



All of the numbers planted which showed the effects of the cross the first year pre- 

 sented the variation of type 2. Of the six numbers which showed doubtful evidence 

 of the cross last year two (24 and 40) showed variation plainly of type 2 ; three (H, 

 11 and 41) were of type 1, and one (14) was intermediate. Of the remaining four- 

 teen numbers, three (3,7, and 15) showed variation of type 2; eight (2,4,5,19,20,21, 

 25, and 26) showed type 1, and three (9, 17, and 27) were intermediate. 



These results seem to suggest that when the effects of the cross are manifest the 

 first year the variation is more likely to be of type 2 the second year, but if they are 

 not manifest, the variation to be expected is ofteuer of type 1. A table shows the 

 type of variation of the crosses arranged accordiug to the different kinds crossed. 

 • * * It is quite probable that several of these crosses will prove to be of value, 

 and accordingly an effort will be made to fix or retain their important characteris- 

 tics in the product of successive years. 



Bibliography of fertilization of varieties of corn (pp. 346-353). — A list 

 of 23 articles, arranged chronologically, with a brief summary of each 

 article. 



Preliminary study of the receptivity of corn silk (353-355). — A limited 

 number of trials and observations in this line were made in connection 

 with other work on the corn plant. The variety of corn treated was 

 Leaming. Cloth sacks were used to prevent the contact of pollen ex- 

 cept as desired. The methods of treatment were as follows: (1) the 

 silk exposed from two to ten days after its first appearance and not 

 reinclosed ; (2) silk exposed during one day and then reiuclosed ; (3) 

 silk exposed until 1^ inches long and then inclosed ; (4) silk exposed 



