IMPROVEMENT OF MAIZE 



189 



any injur>' to the leaves whatever, if done before the tassels had become fully ex- 

 panded. From the experiments in detasseling made at the station it is thought to 

 be of prime importance to completely remove the tassel before it has expanded and 

 commenced to shed pollen. As the tassel at this time is partially protected w-ithin 

 the folds of the leaves, it can only be completely removed by grasping the top of the 

 tassel and giving it an up'n-ard pull which causes it to break ofif as described above. 

 Experiments in detasseling have been made at other experiment stations where the 

 practice has been to remove the tassels by cutting them off with a com knife which 

 would either cause an injury to the leaves or a delay until the tassels had become 

 fully expanded and had shed pollen, as some tassels will shed pollen while yet 

 partially protected within the folds of the leaves. In either case a benefit ought 

 not to be expected from the practice. Our experiments show that the object of 

 removing the tassels is not accomplished if they are allowed to remain until fully 

 expanded and become polleniferous." 1 



Summary of Results Obtained in Detasseling Maize. 



In one trial the Illinois Station - found an increase of twenty- 

 seven per cent when tassels were pulled out and six per cent 

 when cut out ; — an increase of fifteen per cent when removed 

 before tassels were expanded and eleven per cent when removed 

 after tassels were expanded. 



1 Cornell Bui. 61 (1S93), p. 312. 



2 IlL Bui. 37, p. 22. 



