100 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



of their fertility, and yet it is ratlicr disappoiutiiig to know 

 that we have not made ninch progress in the matter of corn 

 growing. Xot every farmer can become an expert breeder of 

 seed corn. This is the work for the specialist, the same as 

 improving varieties of stock; bnt there is a place in every 

 community for some man who will make a study of the needs 

 of that community, of the type of corn which is best adapted 

 to the locality, and who will produce the seed corn required 

 by all the farmers in that locality. 



We have learned that we can do with corn almost anything 

 that we choose to do with it. By careful selection and breed- 

 ing we may increase its percentage of oil, we may increase its 

 percentage of j^rotein or we may increase the starch content. 

 If we desire a type of corn which will produce the ears high 

 upon the stalk, it is jiossible, by selection, to secure this type. 

 If we wish a type of corn free from snckers, we can, by selec- 

 tion, secure this type. One reason why corn breeding has not 

 appealed more to the average farmer is the fact that in the 

 market no distinction in price is made between corn of high 

 or low protein content, but corn is sold simply as cofii, at a 

 certain jn-ico i)er bushel. So long as this is true, we cannot 

 expect the general farmer to pay much attention to the de- 

 velopment of corn in any certain direction. What he desires 

 is a high yield of corn per acre, and npon this point should 

 center the work of corn breeding. So long as the dairyman 

 must sell his milk simply as milk, Avithout any distinction 

 being made as to the fat content or to the sanitary conditions 

 nnder which the milk is produced, we must not expect great 

 advancement in the dairy business. The case is somewhat 

 different, however, with corn. The greatest market for the 

 corn prodnct is right at home on the farm where the corn is 

 produced. Only abont 20 per cent of the total yield of corn 

 in the country is shipped out of the county in which it is 

 grown. With the Avheat crop nearly 60 per cent is shipped 

 out of the county where grown. This means that the corn 

 crop is the general crop for home consumption ; that it is fed 

 to the live stock on the fanu, and that any increase in the 

 percentage of protein or any valuable constituent which is 



