70 



IOWA DEPARSMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



bins we will have gone a long way toward materially increasing our yield; 

 for it is evident that this wide variation is due to the difference in the pro- 

 ducing power of these two ears. In this work of selection the ear may be 

 taken as the unit. While there is something in the individuality of each 

 kernel, we are sure of getting good corn and a large increase in the number 

 of good ears to the hill if we study our seed ears carefully and plant only the 

 best Fourteen ears on an average will plant an acre, therefore, if we put 

 in one ear that produces a great many nubbins and barren stalks we greatly 

 reduce our yield on that acre. 





Fig. 15. 



BARREN STALKS. 



Out Of the five stalks in these two hills only one produced a good ear. 

 Note how weak and sickly the non-productive stalks are compared with the 

 productive one. Barrenness is one of the greatest sources of loss ia corn 



