MAIZE BREEDING. 



By R. W. Thornton. 



Before entering upon this niteresting and important section of 

 the meahe industry, it may be of interest to give some idea as to the 

 history of the maize plant. Most botanists are of opinion that the 

 maize plant is a native of America and that the original home was 

 either Central America or Mexico. As far as can be ascertained the 

 inaize plant was unknown in Asia, Europe or Africa prior to its 

 discovery in and subsequent introduction from America. Darwin 

 states that heads of maize, together with eighteen species of sea- 

 shells, were found embedded in a patch which had been upraised 

 at least 85 feet above the sea-level on the coast of Peru, and at the" 

 Smithsonian Institute at Washington I understand that there is an 

 interesting collection of specimens of maize taken from ancient tombs 

 and mounds. After the discovery of America the maize plant was 

 introduced into Europe and it is now extensively cultivated there 

 and in other parts of the world. The following varieties are now 

 grown in many parts : — 



(i) Flint Maize {Zea Mavs var. indiirata). In this variety the 

 starchy endosperm is enclosed by the corneous endosperm. 



(2) Dent Maize {Zea Mays var. indentata). In this \'anety the 



corneous endosperm extends up the sides of the grain but 

 not over the top, hence the starchy endosperm shrinking 

 and farming a dent as the grain dries, has given rise to 

 the name. 



(3) Pop-corn {Zea Mays var. praecux). Almost the entire 



endosperm is corneous with the exception of a verv small 

 proportion at the germ end. 



The other three varieties, i.e. Soft Maize {Zea Mays var. aniylacea), 

 Sweet Maize {Zea Mays var. saccharata) and Pod Maize {Zea Mays 

 var. Uip.icata) are little cultivated in this country, and are therefore 

 of no great practical importance. 



The maize plant is monoecious. The flowers on the tassels on 

 the top of the stalk are the male flowers and the silks represent the 

 female flowers. 



In maize breeding the principle involved is much the same as 

 that of stock-breeding. The first consideration is the determining 

 of an ideal, which ideal is a combination of the qualities suitable 

 to local conditions, the market requirements, and the return in 

 / s. d. The means employed in breeding are selection and cross- 

 fertilisation. In selection we take what we consider to be the ideal 

 and always select accordingl}'. Thus, if we have two or three fields 

 of mealies sown with different varieties we find which is most suitable 

 to our own conditions and then select from the best plants of the best 

 variety. The plants are selected not only according to the ear, 

 but also according to the stalk, leaves and grain. Thus, when the 

 plants begin to flower we go through the crop and mark those 

 showing strong stalks, with no suckers, with large ears set on a fairly 



