MAIZE. 



109 



Selecting the Seed. 



Theiv should be no excuse for any maize grower who neglects to save his 

 own seed maize. The effect of acclimatisation is so marked thai one should 

 never go outside the district for seed maize. In spite of the argument 

 sometimes h«ard, that seed maize is run out and that a change of seed is 

 required, there is abundant evidence to show thai hy proper selection of 

 seed the yield <>t' a variety can not only be maintained bul greatly increased. 

 It is surprising that more selection of seed is not done by farmers, because 

 the comparatively Large size of the ears, the large number of grains they 

 contain, the few cars it is necessary to select in order to plant an acre, 

 together with the easily observable types and characters of the different ears, 

 all make the selection of seed maize an interesting and easy operation. 



Selection in the Barn. 



There are certain fundamental points in the selection of seed ears of any 

 variety of maize, the observance of which makes fur continuous improve- 

 ment. The chief of these points are desirable features in weight and per- 

 centage of grain per ear, shape, length and circumference of ear, uniformity, 

 depth and shape of grain, and space between the rows and grain on the 

 ear. Combined with greater attention to field characters and to uniformity 

 in the main characters that define a variety of maize, it is possible to effect 



3fX Tr v 5 



>'}< 



The weights of these ears reading frcra lett to right are 15 oz., 13 oz., 13 oz., 1 lb. 3 oz., 1 lb. 1 cz. 

 1 lb. 1 oz., respectively. The three on the left are too light in weight in proportion to their size, a 

 fact which is readily discovered on handling the ears. 



fairly rapid improvement, especially by the establishment of special seed 

 plots in which cross-fertilisation takes place only between the more desirable 

 types. 



One of the most important points in the selection of seed ears is the choice 

 of those of average size which, when dry, are heavy in proportion to their 

 size. Practical farmers are not asked to weigh their ears on a balance or on 

 .scales to get their exact weight : it is easy after a little practice to select the 



