31 



The main object from the standpoint of the farmer in all breeding of 

 plants and animals is to improve the plant or the breed of animals 

 with which he is working. Practical men have realized for genera- 

 tions that it was a profitable thing to use the best individuals in a herd 

 to breed from. The fact that there is as much individuality in plants, 

 that ears of corn, for example, differ as much in their productive 

 power and breeding characteristics as do animals, has not seemed to 

 be generally recognized, or, if recognized, the knowledge has not been 

 made good use of. Seed corn has been generally planted without 

 respect to the region in which it grew, its productive ability or even 

 its germinating power. 



A simple problem in mathematics will show how important it is 

 that in any attempt to improve corn a good individual kernel should 

 be used to start with. One kernel of corn produces an ear. An ear 

 of corn, according to type and variety, will contain from 400 to 1,200 

 kernels. Taking 800 kernels as an average for an ear, these 800 kernels 

 may reasonably be expected to produce 800 stalks, which, counting 

 1 ear to a stalk, gives 800 ears in the second generation. Each of these 

 800 ears, if properly handled, may be expected to produce 800 ears in 

 the third generation. Then in three years there would be produced 

 from the one kernel 640,000 ears, or approximately 8,000 bushels. 

 A farmer, then, can modify to a great extent the quality, yield and 

 all-round general characteristics of his crop by beginning right, with 

 good seed. 



It is not expected, or even wise to advocate, that every farmer shall 

 be a corn breeder, but there is need of developing in New England 

 strains of corn which will be adapted to the soil, length of season and 

 the demands of our New England agriculture. No doubt a con- 

 siderable number of farmers will attempt to improve strains of corn 

 in the future, and these simple directions are given for their benefit. 

 Improving corn does not involve a knowledge of plant breeding. Great 

 advancement can be made by simple selection. Any man with a keen 

 eye, a desire to imj^rove the corn and an ideal to work toward may 

 expect to be well repaid for his time and labor. 



The writer would not overlook the fact that proper soil, climatic 

 conditions, manuring, fertilizing and proper methods of culture are 

 all extremely important, but the limits of this paper prevent a dis- 

 cussion of these at this time. 



As has already been stated, good seed is the first and fundamental 

 step in corn improvement. Uniform ears, straight rows, large size of 

 ear, high percentage of corn to the cob and other points, considered on 

 a score card at a show, may all be valueless when productive power is 

 considered, and the whole purpose of corn improvement is more ears 

 or more fodder to the acre. 



Before any attempt is made to improve a plant some knowledge of 

 the character and habits of the plant should be acquired. With corn 



