BREEDING AND SELECTION 



65 



about in the atmosphere for at least a quarter of a 

 mile, or farther, it can be seen that this breeding plat 

 must either be located far away from other cornfields 

 or protected in some way. This protection may be 

 given by a hedge or other obstruction, or the breed- 

 ing plat may be located in the field of the same variety. 

 If this last plan is adopted, the field should be planted 

 from highly-bred or stock seed, so that the corn breed- 

 ing plat will not be fertilized by the pollen from 

 inferior stalks of corn. The best plan, if possible, is 

 to isolate the breeding plat. The breeding area must 

 be so planned that every seed ear is planted in a 

 definite space. There are two general ways of doing 

 this and both give satisfactory results. Whether 

 there is any special benefit in either plan is not known, 

 and it remains for future experience to demonstrate 

 the best methods of planting. The two systems are 

 called the "plat" and the "row" systems. In the plat 

 system a plat, usually ten hills square, is planted from 

 a seed ear. The plat is definitely located ; any 

 remaining kernels on the ear are preserved, properly 

 marked, for future reference. The plats are arranged 

 in a square, to allow the greatest possible amount of 

 fertilization within the plat. The accompanying 

 diagram shows in general the arrangement of the 

 plats : 



Breeding Plats Arranged in Squaw 



