THE CALL OF THE LAND 



of the germs. In some kernels the chit that 

 extends down into the cob is small, hardly 

 larger than the eye of a darning needle. In 

 other cases there is a fat, healthy-sized plug 

 at the end of the kernel, sticking down into 

 the cob. Suppose the kernels equal in other 

 respects, it is insane to take for planting the 

 kernels that have the small chit, because as 

 surely as there is a day or two of rainy 

 weather after the corn is planted, germina- 

 tion, not having enough food behind it to 

 keep during the damp and chilly weather, 

 will cease, and those kernels of corn, 

 although healthy enough, will not come up. 

 You will have to replant. That is the cause 

 of the non-appearance of corn in many of 

 our fields every spring. Whereas, if you 

 plant the kernels that have large chits, the 

 germination has power behind it to go on 

 independently of the soil until the weather 

 has cleared and the moisture and warmth 

 come that are necessary to the life of the 

 corn. These are only illustrations of the 

 immense importance of seed breeding and 

 selection. The time is coming when from 



130 



