04 



THE BOOK OF CORN 



general rule is to plant few kernels in the hill far 

 enough apart to admit of the best possible cultivation. 

 The usual distance is three feet six inches between 

 the hills, and to plant three kernels in every hill. If 

 three stalks is too great a number, one or more can 

 be pulled out early in the season, and the field thinned 

 to the number desired. 



Breeding Field — The field for the highly-bred 

 corn must necessarily be small. This is true because 



Cross-pollinated Self-fertilized 



Fig 19— Effect of Three Years' Inbreeding 



Large stalks and ears cross-pollinated; small stalks and ears inbred 



there must be individual selection and a large field 

 would make the most careful attention impossible. On 

 the other hand, a small field will allow all possible 

 intensive selection. A good sized field for this pur- 

 pose is about an acre. This must be so located as to 

 prevent mixing. As the pollen from corn will float 



