26 AGRICULTURE 



seed. It may be a part of the general field, if located at 

 the south or southwest side, so that the prevailing summer 

 winds may carry the pollen to all parts of the plot, and 

 even to the remainder of the field. This plot should never 

 be placed where it will receive the pollen from some neigh- 

 boring field of different variety, of mixed, or poor grade 

 corn. 



Care at tasseling time. At tasseling time the selec- 

 tion bed requires special attention. As already explained, 

 this is because the tassel, which is the male flower of the 

 corn, bears the pollen necessary to fertilize the silk, which 

 is the female flower. There is one silk for each kernel. 

 The silk has to be fertilized by a single grain of pollen fall- 

 ing upon it. If pollen from a different variety of corn fer- 

 tilizes the silks, the result is a mixed breed. If the pollen 

 comes from weak or faulty stalks, the ears formed are im- 

 perfect, or the stalk may remain barren. 



In the selection bed, as in the remainder of the field, 

 there will be found weak stalks, barren stalks and suckers, 

 all of which may bear tassels, and hence produce pollen. 

 But the pollen from these faulty stalks should not be allowed 

 to fertilize the ear-bearing stalks. To prevent this, it is 

 necessary to go into the selection bed when the first tassels 

 begin to appear, and cut out all the faulty stalks, so that 

 their pollen may do no damage. This is a very important 

 matter in raising good seed, and should never be neg- 

 lected. Weak parentage in corn, as in stock, should be pre- 

 vented. 



Taking seed from selection bed. The same care 

 should be observed in selecting seed from the selection bed 

 as from the general field. Each year the choicest and strong- 

 est ears should be used in planting the selection bed. In 

 this way, almost any variety of corn can be improved, and 

 much larger and better yields obtained. 



