S July. 1908.] 



Selection of Maize Seed. 



403 



delicate silky threads, each one of which is connected with what will, when 

 fertilized, eventually become a grain of maize. Knowdng this, it is im- 

 perative that any unproductive plants like Fig. 2 should be discarded and 

 uprooted if the quality of the seed is considered before their pollen has 

 had an, opportunity of contaminating the silk of any of the prepotent and 

 desirable plants as shown in Fig. 3. This would be the first step to obtain 

 productive seed for future sowing thereby doing away with the barren 

 plants that would transmit their undesirable qualities to 'the growing croj) 

 and produce a larger proportion of barren plants. 



In growing maize for seed it is necessary that the plot selected for that 

 purpose should be at some distance from the general maize crop; otherwise 

 it is likely to become hybridised by the aid of the pollen blown bv the 



A STERILE M.A.IZE PLANT — TASSEL 

 ONLY, NO COBS. 



3. A FERTILE MAIZE PLANT 

 SHOWING TASSEL AND TWO COBS. 



wind from the tassels of the main crop on to the silks of the seed plot. 

 As " like begets like," it is necessary to select seed from what are known 

 tO' be productive ears and heavy yielders, as they are likely to be more 

 prepotent and to have the powe,r of influencing and transmitting any good 

 qualities they possess to the plant grown from that selected seed. If the 

 silk does not become sufliciently pollinated the result will likely be an 

 imperfectly filled ear as shown in Fig. 4, cobs Nos. 3 and 6. 



Cross breeding, that is, when seed is sown of the same variety of maize 

 but obtained from different cobs, is desirable, as there is then every pro- 

 bability that the seed from such a cross will be furnished with vigor, 

 individuality and productiveness. What is wanted in growing maize for 

 seed purposes is to establish a hereditary tendency to become prolific in 

 yield. It is therefore necessary to remove the tassels from all barren stalks, 

 of course, before the pollen has ripened, and also to remove them from 

 single-eared stalks, so that the pollen of the male element ^vill come only 



