156 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



be planted in corn is laid off in rows for the test plot. Each 

 row is numbered to correspond to the number of the ear that 

 is to furnish seed for that row. About 350 kernels are taken 

 for planting from each ear and placed in a bag marked with 

 the number of the ear. The remainder is left on the cob 

 and put away for possible future use. After this preparation, 

 each row is planted according to number, row number one 

 from ear number one, etc. The plot should receive the same 

 care and cultivation as the rest of the field. During the 

 growing season the various rows in the test plot should be 

 examined from time to time, and those plants showing disease 

 or other faults should be detasseled. When fully ripe, the 

 corn from each row is harvested separately and weighed. 

 The corn from rows having the highest yield is saved for 

 further trial. The rest may be used for any other purpose. 

 Ten or twenty of the best ears from the highest-yielding 

 rows should be saved for the second-year test. 



Multiplying plot and second-year test. For the ear-to- 

 row test of the second year, select for use the best ears pro- 

 duced from the high-yielding rows of the first year's test 

 and the kernels left on the ears saved out of the original 

 planting, which correspond to these high-yielding rows. 



For the multiplying plot, select the good ears remaining 

 in the high-yielding rows and plant in a separate plot to 

 furnish seed for the farm. Since all the seed used in it is from 

 high-yielding rows of the original test plot, it is reasonable 

 to expect the multiplying plot to furnish high-producing 

 seed corn. By this means of selection, high-yielding seed 

 may be developed in time for general planting the third 

 year, but it is desirable to continue the ear-to-row trial a 

 few more years, until several high-yielding strains have been 

 fully established. 



