SHUCK PROTECTION FOR EAR CORN. 15 



of shucks they could supply, but up to the present time there has 

 been an insufficient quantity available to justify the paper com- 

 panies in entering the market for them. Wherever such data could 

 be obtained it was found that the amount obtained from the sale of 

 shucks fully covered the cost of shelling and separation, and there 

 seems to be no chance .of an overproduction. It appears, therefore, 

 that increased shuck protection need not increase the present cost 

 of shucking. 



THE PRODUCTION OF BETTER SHUCK PROTECTION. 



There is abundant evidence to indicate that shuck covering re- 

 sponds to selection. Some of this evidence is summarized as follows: 

 (1) Varieties native to weevil-infested sections usually have a higher 

 percentage of ears in good shucks than do those native to sections 

 where no weevils are found. (2) Varieties native to sections with 

 comparatively few weevils and with poor shuck covering, after having 

 been grown for a number of years in sections very seriously infested 

 with weevils, were found to have as good shuck coverings and as much 

 resistance to weevils as the average native variety. (3) The per- 

 centage of ears in good shucks has been increased by systematic 

 selection. 



All the known efforts in this line of selection have been of short 

 duration, but they indicate that with similar methods and equal 

 effort progress will he as rapid as that in other lines of selection. 



Further investigations are required to determine all the points to 

 be desired in the ideal shuck covering, but it is certain that the por- 

 tion of the shucks that extends beyond the tips of the ears should 

 be very long and that it should fit tightly about the silks. 



The shuck covering can probably be improved in any variety, but 

 some varieties have a greater range of shuck variation than others, 

 and, with other qualities equally good, it would be desirable to start 

 systematic breeding with one of these. Even in those varieties 

 offering the greatest opportunities the ears with ideal shuck exten- 

 sions are exceptionally rare. With varieties in this low state of 

 selection it will necessarily requhe several years of the most exacting 

 selection to attain uniform success. The breeder, however, should be 

 encouraged in his efforts by the thought that while he must begin with 

 exceptionally little, the advantage resulting from complete success 

 will be exceptionally pronounced. Certainly the man who has 

 labored to produce higher yields by selection should be attracted by 

 this promising opportunity to save a part of the corn crop. It is 

 usually impossible to prove that the breeder has increased the 

 yielding power of his variety by selection, but the results of selection 

 for better shuck protection are apparent to the eye. 



