6S THE BOOK OF CORN 



plant. By removing the tassel at the proper time, so 

 as not to injure the plant, and allowing the ear to be 

 fertilized by other pollen, the ears on such detasseled 

 stalks are better developed than the ears on the stalks 

 not so detasseled. By detasseling two rows and leav- 

 ing two rows with tassels, enough pollen will be pro- 

 vided for the complete fertilization of the field. See 

 Fig 22, illustrating pollen grains greatly magnified. 



'The Illinois experiment station found that by 

 inbreeding, that is, placing the pollen of the stalk 

 upon the silks of the ear on the same stalk, the size 

 of the ear and stalk would be eventually decreased. 

 In other words, it is evident that inbreeding in corn 

 tends to develop weakness and a general deterioration 

 of the vitality of the plants. 



Corn naturally crosses within the variety. Evi- 

 dently there is little danger from the evil effects of 

 inbreeding, in the judicious selection of seed from one 

 variety or strain. 



Corn intended for seed should be allowed to thor- 

 oughly mature on the stalk or in the shock before it 

 is gathered. It is then important that the corn should 

 be placed in a crib where there is thorough ventilation. 

 If it is placed in a warm room there is danger that 

 the corn will begin to germinate or mold as a result 

 of the moisture and the warmth. By the middle of 

 November it is best to transfer the corn to the seed 

 house where some artificial heat can be applied for at 

 least a few days until the corn is thoroughly dried. 

 Often it is advisable also to warm the room occasion- 

 ally during damp spells or during extremely cold 

 weather. In ordinary seasons fire drying is not abso- 

 lutely necessary, but is a precaution which it is wise 

 to adopt every season. 



The best plan to date is to place a single layer 

 of ears in the seed room on two strips raised a few 



