[ 



e;xperime;nts in bre;e;ding swe;et corn. 31^ 



each end. At this stage, each ear finally selected for planting 

 should be given a number. This number may be written on a 

 slip of paper and put in the bag with the shelled seed. 



B. Second Verne's Work. Breeding and Propagation Plots. 

 The corn should be planted each year in two plots, one the breed- 

 ing plot and the other the propagation plot. In planting the 

 corn for seed use the best corn land you have, and manure and 

 fertilize it well. Plant the rows 3 feet apart and the hills 18 

 inches apart in the row. Plant 4 kernels to the hill and thin to 

 leave the tzvo best stalks standing in the hill. Give the plots the 

 best cultivation you can. 



1. Breeding plot. In this should be planted the selected ears. 

 The planting here should be on the ear-to-row system That is, 

 each selected ear should be planted in one row by itself. The 

 row should be given the number borne by the ear which is 

 planted in it. Careful observation should be made of the growth 

 of each row throughout the season. Each row should be har- 

 vested separately at the end of the season, its yield determined, 

 and the ears from it kept separate from the ears from all other 

 rows. 



The seed from the best rozvs, those showing greatest earliness 

 and highest yield of good quality corn and stover, should be used 

 to plant the propagation plot of the third year. In saving this 

 seed reject all nubbins and poor ears. 



The seed from the second best rows (i. e., those not selected 

 for the propagation plot) may be distributed by the packer. 

 This will be good seed, better adjusted than the ordinary factory 

 seed to local condition's, but will not be the best. 



2. Propagation plot. In the propagation plot of this year 

 plant the good ears from the previous years selection which were 

 not used in the breeding plot. They represent plants selected 

 for earliness and local adjustment, and should be only second 

 to the best, which were used in the breeding plot. It is desirable 

 though not absolutely necessary in the propagation plot to detas- 

 sel every alternate row. Detasseling is done by pulling out and 

 throwing away the tassel (spindle) as soon as it appears, and 

 before the male flowers which it bears have time to open and 

 discharge their pollen. The cars from the detasseled rows are 

 to be regarded as the best seed, and those from the rows where 



