438 EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS 



nearly 7 per cent in six years. The method at first 

 involved a rigid chemical analysis of the ears and 

 selection of the best. Afterward it was found that 

 for practical purposes the chemical analysis could be 

 dispensed with: since the germ contains most of the 

 oil, it is only necessary to select the kernels with 

 the largest germs. On the other hand, Corn with 

 a lower oil -content is wanted as a feed for hogs, since 

 it produces harder, firmer bacon. So the Station pro- 

 ceeded by selection to decrease the amount of oil 

 to less than 2 per cent. It would, therefore, depend 

 on market conditions whether w^e should try to increase 

 or decrease the amount of oil in the corn. 



In the same way we should breed to increase the 

 amount of protein if the corn is to be used for food, 

 but to decrease it if the corn is to be used for starch. 

 The Station workers were able to increase the pro- 

 tein from 10.92 per cent to 16 per cent in about six 

 years, and to decrease it to Q,QQ per cent in the same 

 length of time. Here, again, it is found practicable 

 for ordinary purposes to dispense wdth chemical 

 analysis and select those kernels w^hich have the white, 

 starchy part around the germ best or least developed, 

 according to which is desired: this is possible be- 

 cause the protein is almost all contained in the germ 

 and in the horny outer part of the kernel, w^hile 

 the starch is practically all in the white portion which 

 lies between them. 



