Pedigreed Animals and Plants. 19 



up the pioneer problem of pushing- the north line 

 of the dent corn zone further to the North and North- 

 west. Minnesota No. 13 corn, bred by the Experiment 

 Station, has been one of the potent factors in pushing 

 dent corn grown for ears fifty miles north in a decade. 

 The modern corn binder and corn husker have also 

 had a great influence on this movement. This same 

 variety of corn has figured prominently in the introduc- 

 tion of corn into the northern counties as a hay crop. 

 A bushel or more of seed of this short-stalked variety 

 of dent corn planted in- drills three and one-half feet 

 apart, with seeds one to two inches apart in the rows, 

 produces several tons of fine hay in regions where 

 clover does not succeed. Flint varieties, which thrive 

 better in the northern climate with cooler soil, are be- 

 ing bred by Minnesota's two northern sub-stations and 

 by the North Dakota Experiment Station on the Min- 

 nesota line. Minnesota alone needs numerous varieties 

 of corn bred for its varying conditions of soil and 

 climate. 



Since corn hybridizes by the pollen being carried 

 by the wind forty or more rods, an experiment station 

 or a farmer cannot well breed more than one or two 

 kinds. There is here opportunity for many corn 

 breeders. I^one of our other crops seems so readily 

 adaptable by breeding to local conditions. While a va- 

 riety of wheat may dominate in several states, a va- 

 riety of corn is mere likely to be adapted to a group of 

 counties. Breeding corn by scientific methods will pay 

 private individuals ; therefore it will be rapidly develop- 

 ed. Manufacturers of corn starch and its products 

 will provide a market for corn especially bred for their 

 purposes. While feeders can afford to pay more for 

 corn containing more protein, manufacturers can, afford 

 to pay for the higher percentage of oil and starch. 

 Since a bushel of seed will plant seven or eight acres 

 of hill corn, the farmer can well afford to pay the 

 breeders two or even three dollars per bushel for seed 



