BREEDING AND SELECTION 63 



make it possible to bring about almost any desired 

 improvement. 



Influence of Soil on Development — The soil upon 

 which the corn is to be grown has a very important 

 influence on the character of the variety. A poor soil, 

 or a soil deficient in any element of fertility, or one 

 which is in poor mechanical condition, will produce 

 poor stalks and poor ears. On the other hand, a soil 

 having the proper proportions of the elements and 

 handled so* as to be in the best possible mechanical 

 condition, will give the best results. It is further 

 necessary to rotate the crops on the soil. If corn is 

 grown year after year upon the same field, numerous 

 insect enemies accumulate and little opportunity is 

 given for the development of corn. The ideal con- 

 ditions of soil seem to be the prairie loam of the 

 Mississippi valley, so rotated as' to include leguminous 

 crops, and the judicious application of manure. If 

 the soil is found to be lacking in any essential element 

 the deficient element should be applied in some way, 

 as by commercial fertilizers. 



Thorough under-drainage is absolutely necessary 

 for a successful corn breeding field. This is true in 

 order that the best possible mechanical condition be 

 maintained. All superfluous water is drained oft 

 quickly and the soil is then prepared to hold moisture 

 against a summer drouth. The preparation of soil 

 and cultivation of the fields should be consistent with 

 good practice for the particular neighborhood in which 

 the corn is grown. It is possible that extra surface 

 stirring will be found profitable and useful during the 

 summer in order to conserve all possible moisture. 

 One important point is to plant the corn immediately 

 after the seedbed has been prepared. 



The thickness of planting must vary with the 

 fertility of the soil and with other conditions. The 



