EXPERIMENTS IN BREEDING SWEET CORN. 279 



By comparison of Table i (p. 259) (ears selected in 1907) 

 and Table 5 (ears selected in 1908) a number of interesting 

 points are brought out. It appears that, on the average, the 

 ears selected as seed for 1909 planting were of higher quality in 

 respect to practically all characters than the ears selected for 

 planting in 1908. Thus the average weight of ear was about 

 18 grams more in the 1908 selections than in the 1907. There 

 was an increase of nearly one-half row in the average number 

 of rows in the 1908 selection as compared with 1907. The 1908 

 seed ears were on the average longer by about a half centimeter, 

 had more kernels to the row, and a relatively smaller cob than 

 the 1907 ears. In mean net weight of shelled corn to the ear 

 the 1908 selections were about 17 grams higher. 



In regard to quality in general, including shape of ear, filling 

 of butt and tip, straightness of rows, fineness of grain, etc., the 

 1908 selections were as a whole, a very fine lot of ears. This 

 is indicated by the illustrations of typical ears given in the plates 

 farther on in the bulletin. 



The yields of the rows in 1909 were in general at a higher rate 

 than in 1908. The major portion, if not all, of this difirerence 

 is due to the difi^erence in the stand in the two years; -one stalk 

 to a hill in 1908, 2 in 1909. 



There were two clear cut and striking general results of the 

 test in 1909. The first of these was that the corn was again 

 extremely early as compared with other sweet corn. It is very 

 doubtful if any gain over the condition in regard to this char- 

 acter in 1908 was made. If it was it certainly could only have 

 been slight in amount. But in any event all that was gained in 

 1908 was retained in 1909, making due allowance for differences 

 in the two seasons. The following dates show the development 

 of the corn in 1909. As has been said, it was planted May 20, 

 1909. 



On June 19, 1909, the corn was found to be in good condition 

 with fine even stand, no hills missing. Plants were from 12 to 

 18 inches high. On June 29, 1909, about one-third of the plants 

 showed tassels starting. July 12, 1909, the field was well out 

 in tassel. July 22 to 25 the silk was well out over the whole 

 field. According to Mr. Arthur Tucker, superintendent of the 

 r.urnham and Morrill factory at Farmington, the entire three 

 acres of corn was in the proper stage for canning on August 



