THE "EAR TO THE ROW" BREEDING PLOT 115 



vidual rows would be of no advantage. We have had a 

 breeding plot ruined by water standing in a depression in 

 the center of the field. If the scales are to help select seed 

 by pointing out high yielding strains, the stand must be 

 uniform. 



This last summer of 1913, which was one of the dryest 

 crop years we have ever seen, was a poor year for indicating 

 the relative value of seed from the different rows. We do 

 not consider our results from that year's breeding to be of 

 half the value of those obtained in 1911 and 1912. While 

 these facts are discouraging, the corn breeder is still better 

 off than the grower of pure bred hogs, who may lose his 

 entire herd from cholera. 



CARING FOR THE BEST EARS 



After the corn has been carefully husked and weighed, 

 the best ears from the most desirable rows should be care- 

 fully dried by laying on racks. The racks can be of wood 

 or wire, or the corn can be strung on binder twine. If the 

 breeding plot is gathered in October, it can safely be dried 

 by hanging in a dry loft ; but if gathered later, it is generally 

 best to dry in a mildly heated room, since the germ might 

 be injured by a sudden cold spell coming before the moisture 

 was all out of the ear. 



One should never go to the other extreme and lay corn 

 on boards over the furnace. This, of course, will soon dry 

 the corn, but it will also cause some of the oil to evaporate, 

 which undoubtedly weakens the germ. 



These methods of securing high yielding seed may seem 

 too expensive to some, but when one stops to consider that an 

 increase of only ten per cent often means a difference of 

 from 100 to 400 bushels, on the average farm, one can see 

 that this time is well spent. 



Corn shows and short courses in corn judging are for 



