12 



THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



feet above the ground. This had been accomplished by selection 

 alone, the ears high on the stalk being selected each year as 

 seed for producing the " high-ear " corn, and ears low on the 

 stalk being selected as seed for the " low-ear " corn plots. 



FIG. 8. Fixing the height of the corn ear by selection 



Will the improved races persist without continuance of the 

 selection ? In most cases the methods by which the improve- 

 ment was brought about must be kept up to prevent the race 

 from going back to its original type. Where continued selec- 

 tion has permanently improved the race of plants or animals, 

 it is probable that the desired characters had previously been 



