FIELD CROPS. 



135 



General averages of crnpfi produced in corn breeding for high cars and for low 



ears. 



The I'esults show that two strains of corn have been produced, one of which 

 bears the ears about 3 ft. higher on the stalk than the other. The high-ear 

 strain has longer stallfs, longer internodes, a greater total number of internodes, 

 and a greater number of internodes below the ear than the low-ear strain. 

 " Perhaps the most significant of all as throwing light upon broader problems 

 of heredity is the fact brought out by these results that the corn has not only 

 responded to the selection, but there has been a gradual progressive shifting of 

 the types so that even in the fourth generation the average height of ears in 

 the one strain is more than twice that in the other." The smaller type of plant, 

 or the low-ear strain, has a shorter growing period than the high-ear strain. 

 In yield of grain no great difference is indicated, but the high-ear strain pro- 

 duces the greater yield of fodder. 



The experiments to influence the declination of ears were begun in 1903, and 

 the selections were made according to the angle of declination at harvest time 

 from " Illinois High Oil " corn, a strain under selection for 7 generations for 

 increase in oil content. The results of this experiment are brought together 

 in the following table : 



Average declination of ears from the perpendicular in hrccding for erect ears 



and for declining cars. 



The results show that the declination of the ear is a character that Ciin be 

 influenced by breeding. The length of shank is apparently the principal factor 

 in determining the declination. The declining ear is the better protected from 

 rain and is harvested by hand with greater facility. 



Report of the committee on breeding cotton, H. J. Webber et al. (Amer. 

 Brecdcr-r As.soc. Proc, .', (1!)0S), pp. 21.5-219).— This paper consists largely of 

 a report on hybrids ;iiid selections of cotton. The work here sununarized con- 

 sists of straight selections, crossing big-boiled with small-bolled, big-boiled with 

 big-boiled, and long-staple upland with short-staple upland cottons, and making 



