HORTICULTUKE. 841 



It is clMiincd l)y st'ctlsnion tliat cars tlio kernels of wliicLi are of a deep 

 amber color and more or less transiiareiil are iiinch sweeter tliaii lliose iu 

 whieh the kernels are oi)a(iue and white, and kernels havini; a line wrinkle 

 are also snpposed to be sweeter than those with a coarse wrinkle. A test of 

 these methods of selectinjj; seed showed practically the same snjiar content iu 

 kernels of different color, but there api)eared to be a relation between the 

 wrinkle of the kernel and the percentage of sugar. "The lowest pei'centage 

 of sugar in the fine wrinkled kernels is above the average percentage in the 

 coarse wrinkled and the highest percentage of sugars iu the individual ears 

 having a coarse wrinkle is much less tliau the average in the fine wrinkled 

 ones." 



The seed for tlie breeding work was secured from Connecticut and planted 

 both at the station and in two other sections of the State. One ear was used 

 to a row and a sample was taken from eacli ear and analyzed as to its con- 

 tent of sugar, protein, and fat. After harvesting typical ears were taken from 

 each row and again analyzed. The tabulated results show the average sugar 

 tontent of the progeny to be higlier than in the parent, while with the protein 

 and in most cases with the fat content the reverse is true. The parent ears 

 whose sugar content was the liighest produced progeny with a higher per- 

 centage of sugar than any of the otlier ears and liigher than the highest of 

 their parent. From these results it appeared that the corn was not only im- 

 proved by being grown in Maryland, but that some ears have a greater ability 

 to transmit (jualities than others. 



Considerable tabular data are given sliowing the effect, as indicated by the 

 composition, of breeding by the ear to row method. Three i>lats w(>re selected, 

 from the tirst year's planting and analyses made of a number of ears from 

 each row. These ears were allowed to ripen and were planted in tlie season 

 of 1007. The result again indicated the tendency of certain individual ears to 

 transmit a high percentage of sugar and that this tendency prevails through- 

 out the entire row grown from sucli an ear. Tlie Crosby variety was found 

 to be much sweeter than the Stowell Evergreen. 



A test was made in 1900 as to the relative i)ercentage of sugar in the upper 

 and lower ears from the same stalk. The results show that there is no ad- 

 vantage to be gained in selecting the upper or the lower ear, providing botli 

 are of equal development, maturity, and vitality. 



In a test made relative to the effect of storage at various temperatures on the 

 sugar content, 3 lots of corn were used, about 50 ears in all, at the same stage 

 of ripeness. The sugars were determined in some and the remainder stored, 

 one-half at room temperature aiid the other lialf in the refrigerator. The corn 

 was stored botli in the husk and husked, and a third portion was Inisked and 

 wrapped in oiled pajier. K.-irs were taken from each lot at the end of 24, 4S. 

 7i?, !)(!, 112, and 120 hour periods, and tlie moisture and total sugars determined, 

 rpon standing 24 liours al)out one-third of the sugars disappeared and within 

 certain limits tlie loss continued during storage. Deterioration in taste was also 

 noted as length of storage increases. The results sliow no material advantage 

 eivlier in liusking tlie ear, wrapping it in oiled paper, or storing it in the 

 refrigerator. It would appear that the ferments work at a very low temper- 

 ature, and that the original (pialities of corn would be hard to i>reserve, hence, 

 the corn should not be i)ulled until ready for use, and should be marketed 

 and canned with as little delay as possible 



Data are given showing the observations made as to the jiroiiorl ions of husk, 

 grain, and cob in a large number of samples. The Maryland grown corn I'anged 

 from 24.J5S to 47.30 i)er cent kernels. In cooi)eration with the Bureau of Chem- 



3U250— Xo. 0—08 1 



