MAIZE. Ill 



to a core of moderate size for this reason, It is possible, however, to err on 

 the side of excessive thickness of core. Such cons take a considerable time 

 to dry out, and in moist districts constitute a menace in the storage heaj 

 because they become mouldy so easily. The ideal of many fanners in 

 selecting seed ears is to got deep grain with a small core. Under conditions 

 of good rainfall and soil, such as exist in most maize districts, the best 

 yielding types .seem to be those with a core of moderate size, and it appears 

 that in these districts, at least, there is a big loss in yield l>v selecting for 

 small cores. There is, however, apparently a correlation between small cores 

 and drought resistance, and this is worthy of note in the drier maize districts. 



Ears should ha\c no large amount of space between the grains on the cob, 

 either at the tip of the grain next to the cob or at the crown or dent end of 

 the grain. Ears of good external appearance sometimes have a wide space 

 between the tip of the grains which, when shelled, are seen to be pinchei 



and of poor weight and colour. 



A wide furrow between the rows of grain also means a lower weight of 

 shelled grain from the ear, but when the furrow is almost absent the grain is 

 not only of poor shape and colour, but mostly also shallow and pointed, with 

 weak germs. Ears with grain tight on the cob are always to be preferred t" 

 those with loose grain. 



A mistake is often made by farmers in. saying that ears with a rough dent 

 have pinched grain. The roughness of the dent is usually an indication of a 

 higher soft starch content, but also a rough dent is usually indicative of deep 

 grain. Pinched grain is best indicated at the tip end, not at the dent end, 

 and the moderately rough-dent type of grain is usually the best yielding type 

 in a late variety on the North Coast. 



In the selection of seed ears, more attention should be paid to uniformity 

 in the appearance of the ears, and also in the size and shape of the grain, than 

 is usually done. Ears that are uniform in size, shape, appearance and 

 character of dent, indicate greater purity of variety. This means greater 

 uniformity in maturing and more uniformity in time of flowering. 



Owing to the manner in which a maize plant in the field depends on its 

 neighbours for the fertilisation of its flowers and the formation of its grain, 

 this uniformity in time of flowering is very important. Those plants in a 

 field of maize which flower much later than their neighbours have little 

 chance of being fertilised, and barren stalks are the result. 



The more uniform it is possible to get the sample of grain for planting, the 

 more uniform will be the dropping or sowing from the maize drill, and the 

 better will be the yield. Uniformity in colour of grain is also important, 

 as grain of mixed colour brings a lower price on the market. 



Selection in the Field. 



Although in the preceding pages we have closely observed the characters 

 visible in the seed ears, we have as yet taken no cognisance of the li.-j.: 

 characters of the mother plants from which the ears have been selected. In 

 the first place, a huge ear may be due to the fact that its stalk had an 

 advantage while it was growing in the held. It may have had a great 

 space, or a richer bit of soil, or more abundant moisture. Any of these con- 

 ditions will enable a plant to produce a larger ear. Such an ear cannot 

 be expected to yield wel 1 . unless it has similar advantageous conditions 



