THE BREEDING OF CORN 



201 



which is low in protein and rich in starch, and (3) the 

 germ which contains from 80 to 85 per cent of the total 

 oil content of the kernel. Keeping these facts in mind one 

 will readily see that by selecting ears whose kernels con- 

 tain more than the average proportion of horny endosperm, 

 one will secure high-protein ears. Likewise by selecting 

 ears whose kernels contain germs larger than the average, 

 one will secure high-oil ears. The results of ten years' 

 pedigree breeding for high and low protein content and 

 high and low oil content by the Illinois Experiment Station 

 are summarized in the following table : 



TABLE 12. SHOWING RESULTS OF TEN GENERATIONS OF BREEDING 

 CORN FOR INCREASE AND DECREASE OF PROTEIN AND OIL l 



247. Other effects of breeding for composition. It 



was found that the continued selection of corn for high 

 protein resulted in the production of ears averaging some- 

 what smaller than the low-protein ears, the number of 

 kernels also averaging " slightly less on the typical high- 



1 111. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bui. 128, 1908. 



