e;xp^rime;nts in breeding sweet corn. 311 



concerned, make a business of growing seed corn. The utmost 

 care sliould be given to the selection of seed, looIs:ing towards 

 the improvement of the strain. Suggestions regarding such se- 

 lection follow. There is little doubt that it would be extremely 

 advantageous from all points of view to have only one variety 

 or strain of sweet corn grown in a locality. The gain in uni- 

 formity of product which would follow would be of great value 

 to the packer. If not desired, however, there is no reason why 

 the production of improved, selected seed should be confined to 

 a single variety. The important thing is that, whatever the 

 variety or varieties to be grown, the seed shall be locally 

 produced. 



2. Plan for breeding improved seed siveet corn. The follow- 

 ing detailed plan is drawn up for the guidance of farmers and 

 packers who desire to undertake the production of seed corn. 

 It will, of course, be understood that business reasons make it 

 imperative that the control of the sweet corn seed, if not the 

 actual growing of it, be in the hands of the packers. 



A. First year's zvork. Field selections. In the first year's 

 work towards an improved strain of seed only the field selections 

 of plants from which ears are later to be used for planting can 

 be made. These selections should be made of the growing- 

 plants in the field. The fields from which seed is to be taken 

 should be gone over at least two and preferably three times in 

 making the selections. The first time may best be about the 

 time the corn is ready for the factory or a little before. In 

 choosing plants to be saved for seed look out for the following 

 points in the order named. In going over the field one should 

 provide himself with some strips of cheap bright colored cloth, 

 about 2 feet long and 2 to 3 inches wide. When a stalk is 

 selected to be saved for seed one of these cloths should be tied 

 around it just below the tassel. This marks the plant so that 

 it will be saved when the rest of the crop is cut. 



1. BarHness. Whatever other good points a stalk may have 

 do not save it for seed unless it is conspicuously earlier (i. e., 

 more advanced in its growth) than the others around it This 

 is most important. 



2. Si::c and vigor of plant. Take only stocky plants with 

 broad leaves, bearing good sized, and so far as can be judged at 

 this stage, well shaped ears. 



