FARM CROPS. 99 



Selection of Seed. If a corn grower is not satisfied 

 with his corn, if it is low yielding or undesirable for 

 other reasons, it should be his business to investigate 

 the possibility of securing other varieties of higher 

 yielding power, and of more profitable production. 

 This can be done in several ways : ( I ) study yield 

 tests in Experiment Station Reports of Home State 

 Agricultural Experiment Station; (2) through the 

 Agricultural Press; (3) personal visits to planters 

 using other varieties; and (4) by correspondence with 

 corn breeders' organizations. 



After securing a satisfactory variety it should be 

 improved by intelligent and continuous selection of 

 seed. In order to make the best selection it is desir- 

 able to study the plants as early as possible, observe 

 them frequently all season, and save seed ears from 

 the type of plant bearing the kind of ears desired. 

 When the crop is husked a sharp lookout should be 

 kept for fine ears, and the desirable ones for seed 

 thrown in a separate receptacle for future more care- 

 ful inspection. The best ears are frequently found 

 unexpectedly developed in nature's laboratory by 

 means we do not fully understand. 



Corn Judging. The first corn judging school, so 

 far as the writer knows, was held at the University 

 of Illinois in the fall of 1898. A short corn judging 

 course of two weeks for farmers, the same winter, at- 



Boone County White, Marlborough Prolific, Shaw's Im- 

 proved, Calhoun Red Cob. 

 SWEET CORNS : 



Crosby, Country Gentleman, Molakhof, Evergreen, and 



numerous local strains. 

 POP CORNS : 



White Transparent, Rice, and numerous local and other va- 

 rieties. 

 FLINT CORNS : 



Canada Eight-Rowed, Longfellow, Wilson Hybrid, Yellow 



Creole, and numerous local varieties. 

 POD CORNS AND SOFT CORNS : 



No special varieties known to the writer other than a new 

 variety of pod corn not named ; widely advertised by 

 H. J. Sconce, a corn breeder of Illinois. 



