28;:} 



Report op the AVork in Corn Pollination, III. 



M. L. Fisher. 



A brief resume may be helpful. In 190S a series of studies in corn 

 I'dUination was begun. Of these studies two were reported to this society 

 at the ItiOS meeting. One of these dealt with the vitality of pollen as 

 affected by age. The other dealt with the results of cross-pollinating 

 varieties of different colors also, the crossing of sweet and dent corn. 

 Seed obtained from these crosses was used for planting in 1909. The re- 

 .^ults of this planting were reported at the 1910 meeting. In brief they 

 showed an agreement with Mendelian principles. 



In 1910 seed was selected from the various types developed in 1909. 

 For example, from ears which showed white and yellow dent, and sweet 

 kernels all on the same cob, the white kernels were picked out and 

 planted separately; the same was done with the yellow dent and sweet 

 liernels. In all sixteen different selections were made. These were 

 iilanted in single rows side by side and given similar ti'eatment in every 

 v.ay. Hand pollination was resorted to as in the two previous years. It 

 may be said here that after three years of self-pollination there was not 

 the marked deterioration which breeders have told us would happen from 

 sucii in-breeding. 



A full account of the results of this experiment may not be given in 

 this place, but the following observations are presented : 



1. The effect of using Reid's Yellow Dent as a male on Boone County 

 White was to increase the height of the stalk noticeably, while the recip- 

 rocal cross showed a sturdier stalk than is usual with either variety. 



2. Sweet corn as either parent induced an abundance of suckers. 

 The average for six different rows in which the seed used had some sweet 

 in it was 47.5 per cent, of the stalks being suckered, some stalks having 

 as many as six to eight. Also, where Reid's Yellow Dent was the male, 

 the per cent, of suckers was lai'ge, amounting to 42.6 per cent, of all the 

 stalks, while the reciprocal gave only 9.6 per cent. It is well known that 

 sweet corn normally produces many suckers, and under favorable condi- 

 tions Reid's I'ellow Dent produces more than most dent varieties. 



