FARMERS' METHODS OF PRODUCING PURE SEEDS 289 



then a basis of further selection. Complicated methods have 

 been used for the introduction of new blood and to keep up the 

 vigor of the strain. The method here outlined is an attempt 

 to simplify this practice and at the same time obtain as good 

 results as can be obtained by the more detailed procedures. It 

 is based on experimental studies carried on at the Nebraska 

 Station (Montgomery, 1909). The details are as follows: 



1. Select from 100 to 200 ears of the variety to be grown. If 

 possible, select these ears in the field from those stalks which if 

 in a perfect stand will give a good yield. 



2. Make an ear-to-row test of these selected ears, saving half 

 of the seed from each ear planted. From this ear-to-row test 

 the 25 best ears may be determined. 



3. Mix the remnants of the 25 highest yielding ears and plant 

 the following year in a seed plot. Select all ears obtained which 

 are fairly desirable, eliminating only the very undesirable types. 



4. Use the selected seed for planting as much of the corn 

 acreage as possible. 



DIAGRAM OF PROCEDURE FOR SPECIAL CORN BREEDER 



1st Year 



2nd Year 



3rd Year 



4th to 

 3th Year 



Use remnants of 25 best 

 yielding ears 



Repeat ear-to-row test at the end of the 8th 

 year and proceed as before. 



Field 



U> 



