INDIAN OOBN. 155 



There is no evidence that color affects the yield. 

 White varieties are more common in the southern por- 

 tion -and the yellow varieties, are more common in the 

 northern portions of the United States. 



Of two stalks bearing the same quantity of corn 

 the smaller stalk is to be preferred, where grain is the 

 principal object sought. The larger the stalks the 

 more food material necessary to produce th^m, the 

 more ground is shaded, and, consequently, a less num- 

 ber can be raised per acre. In some localities the ear 

 may be too high on the stalk to be easily husked. 

 The stalks are also more easily blown down. Four 

 feet above the ground is a good height for the ears of 

 medium sized varieties of dent corn. 



Two-eared varieties of dent corn have not been 

 commonly grown, and it has not been satisfactorily 

 shown in what way it is easier for a stalk of corn to 

 elaborate the material for two ears of corn than it 

 would be to produce the same corn on one ear. As 

 ordinarily harvested varieties bearing but one ear on 

 a stalk are to be preferred, unless the two or more 

 eared varieties yield an appreciably larger quantity of 

 corn. 



A varying percentage of the stalks of a field are 

 barren — do not bear any ears. The percentage of 

 barren stalks on a given soil varies with the thickness 

 of planting and the season. Barrenness does not 

 seem to be a variety characteristic. 



Starting with a good variety for a given neighbor- 

 hood it is important to maintain its excellence and to 

 improve it by continued and careful selection. The 

 most important thing is to select good ears according 

 to the standards just given. The next thin^ is to give 



