532 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The effect of breeding on the protein and oil content is shown in the following 

 table, conii)iled from the general averages of each generation: 



Ten. [/cttcraiioiis of breeding corn for increase and decrease of protein and oil. 



With reference to protein these results show that starting with a single 

 variety it has been possible in 10 generations of this work to increase the protein 

 content from 10.92 per cent to 14.26 per cent, a gain of 3.34 per cent, while by 

 breeding in the opposite direction it has been possible to reduce the protein 

 content from 10.92 to 8.64 per cent, or a reduction of 2.28 per cent, making a 

 total difference between the two strains of 5.62 per cent. It is further shown 

 that the high-oil corn has increased from 4.70 per cent to 7.30 per cent of oil, 

 while a low-oil corn has decreased from 4.70 to 2.66 per cent, the difference 

 between the two strains in 1906 being 4.71 per cent. 



High in-otein and low protein seed were planted together on one plat and 

 high oil and low oil seed on another. These plats were continued for 3 years, 

 and the results secured did not indicate that the soil influences the protein or 

 the oil content. 



A study of the secondary effects produced by selection to change the compo- 

 sition of the grain indicated that the change in the composition of the grain has 

 produced no very marked effect upon the composition of other parts of the corn 

 plant. Continued selection has apparently induced a certain correlation between 

 protein and oil content and has resulted in characteristic types of kernel and 

 perceptible modifications in the type of ear. Selection for high protein is con- 

 sidered as evidently accompanied by a reduction in yield. It was also found 

 that climatic conditions exert in certain years a marked effect upon the com- 

 position of the corn crop as regards its protein, oil, and starch content. 



The detailed plat records of the four strains and the analytical results of 

 nearly 5,000 individual ears analyzed during the 10 years are given in tables so 

 arranged that the maternal pedigree record of every ear is shown. The work 

 on the four breeding plats is still being continued. 



Corn: Selection, storing-, curing-, and testing for seed, J. A. Jeffery {Michi- 

 gan Sta. Circ. 3, pj). 19-30, figs. 17). — In pointing out the importance of testing 

 corn for seed It is stated that of a large number of ears tested for vitality 

 those selected from the shock invariably produced an exceedingly low number 

 of germinations. More than 50 per cent of the ears produced no germination 

 whatever, and of those that did show vitality it was rare that 100 per cent of 

 the kernels germinated. Directions are given in detail for the selection of seed 

 corn, its care, grading, and testing. 



Testing- tlie germination of seed corn, M. P. Jones (New York Cornell ^ta. 

 Circ. 1, pp. S, figs. 3). — The selection of good seed ears, the method of making 



