CORN SELECTION FOR SEED AND FOR SHOW. 



BY PROF. WILLIAM D. HURD, MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The renewed interest in corn growing is a significant thing in New 

 England agriculture. When corn could be laid down "on track" in 

 the east for 30 cents a bushel there may have been some excuse for 

 the New England farmer depending on the "corn belt" for this im- 

 portant product. For the past ten years, however, the price in the 

 eastern States has ranged from 70 to 90 cents a bushel. Careful 

 calculations show that corn can be raised on New England farms at 

 a cost of from 30 to 45 cents per bushel (shelled), hence it is a profitable 

 crop to raise. That corn is adapted to almost any rotation, that silage 

 is indispensable in feeding a dairy herd, that this crop is extensively 

 used in the arts and manufactures, always finding a ready market, and 

 its being a native of New England are further reasons why this most 

 important crop in this country should be more extensively grown here. 



The average yield of corn throughout the United States, according 

 to 1908 statistics, was 20. 2 bushels per acre. The average yield over 

 the six New England States for the same year was 40.5 bushels to the 

 acre. This same year several growers in New England obtained 

 yields of from 100 to 133 bushels of shelled corn to the acre (calculated 

 when taken from the field). What accounts for this wide difference 

 between the average yield and that secured by careful growers? No 

 doubt favorable soil, proper manuring, cultivation, etc., played im- 

 jjortant parts, but probably the most important factor was strong, 

 virile, productive, properly selected seed. The need of more attention 

 on the part of farmers to seed selection, and the fact that this year 

 there is to be held in New England a great corn exposition, where 

 selection and i^reparation of samples for show will count, are suf- 

 ficient reasons for the emphasizing of these jjoints in this paper. An 

 attempt only has been made to take up such points as would aid New 

 England farmers to improve their corn, and get read}^ for the ex- 

 position. 



The main object from the standpoint of the farmer in all breeding of 

 plants and animals is to improve the plant or the breed of animals 

 with which he is working. Practical men have realized for genera- 

 tions that it was a profitable thing to use the best individuals in a herd 

 to breed from. The fact that there is as much individuality in plants, 

 that ears of corn, for example, differ as much in their productive 



