320 ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN BOTANY 



as much as possible, and to multiply it in sufficient quantity 

 to supply all who need it. In this way, those who wish seeds 

 can get good ones to start with from reliable seed firms, but 

 they should be able to select seeds from their own crops for 

 subsequent crops. 



In doing so, they must select a few plants that seem to be 

 most desirable. Of course the standard of selection may 

 vary ; selection may be made for some quality, for yield, for 

 appearance, etc. ; but whatever it is, the plants selected 

 must be those that come nearest to this standard. The 

 seeds from these selected plants must be saved for sowing, and 

 the next crop is likely to be a little better than the former one. 

 If this careful selection is continued through a series of sea- 

 sons, the successive crops will maintain their desired character 

 and will probably improve. 



In the case of corn, it has been found that after the selection 

 of good plants, the most desirable ears must be selected. Of 

 course this selection means the best ears from the best plants. 

 This ear-by-ear selection in the case of corn is based upon the 

 fact that all the grains of an ear of corn are remarkably uni- 

 form in character. This selection of seed corn, and its 

 importance in the resulting crop, is being emphasized by the 

 formation of " corn clubs " for boys in agricultural com- 

 munities, and by contests between clubs. The United States 

 Department of Agriculture is so much interested in such clubs 

 that it issues bulletins for them and their contests, and has a 

 specialist in charge of club work. These bulletins may be 

 obtained for the asking. 



27. Seed-germination. After seeds have been selected 

 from desirable parent plants, the question of their germinating 

 power (viability) is an important one. In general, this 

 germinating power is greatest in the next season after the 

 seed is produced, which of course is the usual period in nature 

 between seed-production and seed-germination. This implies 

 that in general the germinating power of a seed diminishes 



