BREEDING AND SELECTION 6l 



sacked, ready for sale, little or no attention being paid 

 to the selection ; in fact, it is generally handled with 

 a scoop shovel and is known as the "scoop shovel 

 method of selection." The chances are that the 

 farmer has in his own crib better corn than that which 

 he purchases from seedsmen at four or five times the 

 market price. And then he runs the additional risk that 

 it will not mature in his locality. If it were simply 

 a matter of losing the price of the bushel of imported 

 seed corn, it would not be serious, but when we con- 

 sider that a bushel of seed corn ought to produce four 

 hundred bushels of corn worth from $130 to $160, 

 the serious nature of the question is very apparent. 

 If for any reason a farmer's corn is not satisfactory 

 for seed, he certainly should not send away for seed 

 corn, but should purchase from someone in the vicinity 

 whose corn has given good results during the past 

 three or four years. It is an excellent plan, 

 however, for two or more persons in a neighborhood 

 to secure a small amount of good seed of some of the 

 standard varieties and give them a good trial. In 

 this way it is probable that varieties will be found 

 which, after they have become acclimated, will prove 

 of considerable value to the community. 



The selection of the variety is the first important 

 point in breeding seed corn. The variety must be 

 adapted to the conditions of soil and climate in which 

 it is to be grown. Of course, by reason of the great 

 variation in corn,' varieties suited to almost any con- 

 ditions may be chosen, but in order to save time it 

 is wise to begin with a variety already adapted to the 

 conditions. It takes considerable time to effect any 

 marked change, consequently a variety which has been 

 thoroughly tested should be selected. There will be 

 ample opportunity to make any desired changes, and 

 by taking advantage of the previous breeder's effort 



