266 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



After the best ears have thus been selected for next year's breeding 

 plat, the farmer will have a large quantity of well-bred seed for plant- 

 ing his entire acreage. In this way he can economically provide himself 

 with choice seed corn every year which he has gradually suited to his 

 that it is very difficult and expensive to obtain seed corn of this quality 

 that it is very difficult and expensive to obtain seed corn of this quality 

 when they seek to secure it from others. 



The vitality of all seed corn should be tested. Only vigorous seed 

 with strong germinating power can be depended upon for a full stand. 

 The following is a simple and practicable method of testing for vitality: 

 Fill an ordinary china plate with sand and saturate it with water 

 Select three kernels from each ear, one from near the tip, one from 

 near the middle, and one from near the butt. Place the kernels in 

 the sand point aown, and turn a smaller plate over the first to prevent, 

 too rapid evaporation of moisture. Set the plate in a warm room. Keep 

 a record of the time and number of kernels sprouted. If the seed is cf 

 high vitality at least 95 per cent should germinate within five days. 

 If this result is not obtained better seed should be secured. 



In concluding this subject I would not in any sense underestimate 

 the importance of the work of many farmers, which has for its object 

 an incrased yield of corn per acre. You will agree with 

 me, however, that the practicable system of corn-breeding which we have 

 outlined gives greater promise of yielding a suitable reward in profit 

 than any other. That a larger number of farmers may enjoy a share of 

 this reward is my reason at this time for making this plea in behalf of 

 the better practices in breeding and improving our varieties of corn. 



SELECTION AND PRESERVATION OF SEED CORN. 



H. J. Webber, Chief Plant Breeding Laboratory U. S. Department Agri- 

 culture, in Orange Judd Farmer. 



The question with corn growers is how to increase the yield at least 

 expense. This can probably be accomplished in two ways, either by im- 

 proving the methods of culture or by improving the varieties cultivated. 

 As long as we continue to cultivate corn on an extensive scale, it is not 

 probable that the methods of cultivation can be very greatly improved. 

 However, the other factor of improvement is surely within the reach 

 and practical application of every corn grower. The fact that improve- 

 ments of the greatest importance can be secured simply by the process 

 of selection is evident from the fact that the great majority of our best 

 varieties of corn, such as Learning, Boone County White, etc., are the 

 results of careful selection of seed, carried on systematically through a 

 series of years. 



The keynote of proper seed selection is to select seed from the best 

 individuals among the many. The proper selection of seed corn can be 

 made only in the field. Experience has shown that in different individ- 



