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large ears because the very large ear is generally later in 

 maturing. Hence, the kernel does not have the vitality pos- 

 sessed by the kernel from the smaller ear. We believe, by 

 carefully selecting our seed from the high yielding rows in 

 the breeding plots and, at the same time, following the rules 

 for field selection, we can accomplish as much in one year as 

 we could in five by using field selection alone. We are so 

 sure of this that we are conducting three breeding plots. 

 Since the results of the breeding plots are always affected to a 

 considerable extent by season and varying soil conditions, 

 we are not prepared, as yet, to make the above statements 

 dogmatically. It will take several more years' experiment on 

 our part to prove or disprove the above points. The breeder 

 who guesses at results is a hindrance and not a help to 

 corn improvement. 



There are other points, however, on which we are con- 

 vinced beyond a doubt : First, a medium type of any variety 

 of corn will out-yield a very rough type. The result of last 

 year's breeding indicates that the rough type averaged in 

 yield only 89.6 per cent of that of the medium type. Mr. 

 Chas. A. Bowe of Jacksonville has obtained practically these 

 same results. 



Some breeders have had results proving that a very 

 smooth type will out-yield the rough. We consider, however, 

 the smooth type a dangerous extreme, since it does not dry 

 out as well as the rougher type. (The rougher the type the 

 longer the average length of kernels.) Our results show 

 that the detasseled rows do not yield as well as the rows 

 where the tassels are not interfered with. Even if the work 

 is carefully done, pulling the tassels cuts the yield about 

 5 per cent. The loss is correspondingly greater if the work 

 is carelessly done. This shows that detasseling should be 

 undertaken only in the breeding plot and for the express 

 purpose of insuring cross pollenization. 



