723 



Those not killed were iiijnrocl to such an extent that scarcely a well filled ear of large 

 or uornial size was obtained. For this reason notes as to habits of growth, char- 

 acter of stalks, time of ripening, etc., are not given. 



The ears from which the descriptions were prepared were inclosed before the silk 

 appeared. Upon maturity of the pistils (silk) and anthers, some tassels were also 

 inclosed for the purpose of securing pure pollen. The latter was applied to tiie silk 

 of the inclosed ears, according to the method of pollinating employed in the preced- 

 ing years. The pollen of each variety was applied to the ears of the same variety, 

 thus insuring pure ears, i. e. ears with grains ia no case vitiated with any cross. 



Of the 62 "crosses" harvested, 5 were .too imperfect for comparison. Of the 

 remaining 57, 43 (7.5.44 per cent) showed evidence of the cross, i. e. were interme- 

 diates (8 of them in color only) between the parental types. In the previous (first) 

 year but 15 (26.82 per cent) of them showed evidence of cross. The tabulation 

 below shows fully the classified results, and for comparison the record for the first 

 year (18S9) also is shown : 



► Eight of them in color only. t Seven of them in color only. f One of them in color only. 



It was noticed that the more inferior ears mostly failed to present the blending of 

 the twoparentaltypes to that degree which better ears usually did. In some cases the 

 parents were but slightly dissimilar, thus rendering the judgment uncertain as to evi- 

 dences of cross. The blending in some cases was complete and the resulting ears 

 were exactly intermediate in character. The flint character, however, is usually very 

 marked in the second- year ears, whether the dent parent be the male or the female. 



Of the crosses made in 1889 simply to improve varieties, all were planted, but only 

 22 arrived at maturity. » » » 



Because of almost complete failure of the corn crop this season, it is evident that 

 no comparison of significance can yet be made between the forms obtained by the 

 crosses indicated above and the varieties whose improvement by the crossing was 

 attempted. However, the seed is not contaminated by unknown pollen, and there- 

 fore a continuation of the experiment is jiossible and is contemplated. 



Brief descriptions are given of each of tlie ears obtained as the result 

 of the crossing, and six of these ears are illustrated iu a phite. 

 Grossed corn the third year. — 



Seed selected from the second-year crossed corn (of 1889) was planted on May 10 in 

 a young orchard on rich creek l)ottom-land. From each "cross" of 1889 tlie most 

 diverse kernels were selected and planted ; especial care was taken to select also any 

 intermediate kernels that seemed likely to furnish a valuable variety. The germina- 

 tion in all cases was good, and for a month or more after planting the growth was 

 all that could be desired. A very severe drought followed, however, which greatly 

 m.iured all of the crosses planted. In many cases scarcely a single ear was produced, 

 and none of the crosses produced good ears. 



