98 CHAPTER VI 



shadow productive plants of desirable qualities, obscured to a 

 certain extent by the effect of closer competition and more 

 severe conditions of plant food and soil moisture. In short, 

 hereditary qualities do not receive their due value. The 

 average maize farmer should select his seed from the crop as 

 it stands in the field. 



Ears only from those plants growing in full competition 

 with their neighbours should be chosen. These plants should be 

 selected for vigour and robustness, for early or late maturity, 

 freedom from disease, drought-resistance, and other desirable 

 qualities ; moreover, the ears of these plants should conform 

 to the ideal sought for. The selection of these plants should 

 take place as soon as the earliest ears mature, at which time 

 both the plant and ear can be considered. The ears, however, 

 should not be taken until fully mature. In the selection of 

 ears the points to be judged are those enumerated in the 

 following score-card — viz. : — 



Total 



100 



Brief RxrL.\NATioN of Points. 



(1) Indentation. — Various indentatiilons characterise the 

 different dent breeds. However, an excessively chaffy condi- 

 tion indicates imperfect maturity often due to disease. 



