CORN BREEDING 



37 



to the center, which becomes the cob. Each ovule has its own 

 silk (Fig. 6). In other words, each grain of corn has its own silk 

 extending to the upper end of the ear, where it may be readily 

 pollinated by the action of the wind. Examples are often found 

 in ears in which a number of the kernels did not develop. This 

 may have been due to the silks being eaten off by insects, or 

 because pollen failed to grow on the stigma surface of the silk 

 (Fig. 8). 



There are several methods by which the corn grower can 

 improve his variety of corn without great difficulty. 



FIG. 27. Wheat (left) crossed with pollen from rye (right). The three central heads are 

 average results of this cross. (U. S. D. A.) 



1. Go through the windward or westerly side of the field just 

 before the pollen begins to scatter and cut off the tassels from 

 every stalk which does not promise a thrifty growth and a good 

 ear. The tassels may be thrown upon the ground or used for feed. 

 By this method the poorest stalks in the field will not become the 

 parents of the seed corn for future crops. 



2. Just before the pollen scatters cut all the tassels from 

 every alternate row. This is to enforce cross-pollinating to some 



