Report of Work in Corn Pollination, 



P»Y M. L. FlSIIEK. 



The work here reported was done during the season of 1908. A serifs 

 of six studies was carried out in duplicate, as follows: 



a. To determine period necessary for pollination in the field. 



b. To determine the best condition of silks for pollination. 



c. To determine time of day when pollination takes place most 

 actively. 



d. To determine the result of crossing with pollen from a variety of 

 a different color or race. 



e. To determine the vitality of pollen grains. 



f. To determine the effectiveness of hand pollination. 



All prospective ears were covered with paper bags before the silks 

 appeared. Where hand pollination was performed, an umbrella was held 

 over the shoot and to the windward while it was uncovered. Only the 

 results obtained from "d" and "e" will be reported upon at this time. In 

 all but "b," the silks used were three inches or more in length and in fresh 

 condition. 



The work under "d" was divided into four parts : d 1 . The silks of 

 Reid's Yellow Dent, a yellow variety, were pollenized with pollen from 

 Boone County White, a white variety. Fairly well filled ears were ob- 

 tained. The kernels had yellow bodies and almost uniformly whitish 

 crowns. A few kernels were yellow throughout. The character of the 

 kernel and ear, other than color, was uninfluenced. 



d 2 . The silks of Reid's Yellow Dent were pollenized with pollen from 

 Stowell's Evergreen, a sweet corn, whitish in color and having wrinkled 

 kernels when mature. Fairly well filled ears were obtained, but the char- 

 acter of the ear and kernel was unchanged. The only variation noticeable 

 was a somewhat broader kernel, but such variation might occur without the 

 effect of crossing. • 



d 3 . Reid's Yellow Dent was pollenized with pollen from a speckled 

 variety. None of the kernels was speckled. A few had whitish crowus. 

 Otherwise no change. 



[10— 213G3] 



