CORN BREEDING 149 



Silks. 



(9) Provided any corn in silking stage is available. 



(a) With a magnifying glass examine the fresh silk sticking 

 out beyond the shuck for hair-like branches and for 

 pollen grains that have lodged on the silk. 



(6) Tie large, strong paper bags over several young ear- 

 shoots before any silks appear. 



(c) A few days after the silks appear under the bags, note 



how much longer they are than silks which have re- 

 ceived pollen. 



(d) While the silks under one bag are still fresh, and before 



any pollen has reached them, cut all the silks on one 

 side of the ear, just inside the shuck ; apply corn 

 pollen on the remaining silks. In three weeks note the 

 number of grains of corn developed on each side of the 

 injured ear. 



LITERATURE 



EAST, E. M. Conn. (State) Expr. Sta., Rpt. 1907-1908, Part VII, 



p. 41, and Conn. (State) Expr. Sta., Bui. No. 158. 

 SMITH, L. H. IU. Expr. Sta., Bui. Nos. 128 and 132. 

 WILLIAMS, C. G. Ohio Expr. Sta., Circ. No. 71. 

 HARTLEY, C. P. U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmer's Bui. No. 229. 

 SOULE, A. M., and VANATTER, P. O. Va. Expr. Sta., Bui. No. 



165. 



DAVENPORT, E. The Principles of Breeding. New York, 1907. 

 DAVENPORT, E. 111. Expr. Sta., Bui. No 119 and Circ. No 101. 

 WEBBER, H. J. Plant Breeding. Bailey's Cyclo. Agr., Vol. II, 



pp. 53-69; and Xenia (double fertilization), U. S. Dept. 



Agr., Div. Veg. Phys. and Path., Bui. No. 22. 



