128 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



past few years but few attempts have been made in the 

 South to improve varieties by breeding or even to keep 

 pure the best existing varieties. Almost any local kind, 

 now found to be productive and otherwise valuable in its 

 special locality, is worthy of being improved by careful 

 and scientific methods of breeding. 



The first effort of the breeder should be directed towards 

 increased yield, to secure which he should select chiefly 

 those plants which carry the greatest weight of grain. 

 Next he should aim at uniformity, and at the other quali- 

 ties usually considered desirable. Rather than to attempt 

 to create an entirely new variety by crossing two existing 

 kinds, he should start with one existing variety that is 

 nearest to his ideal, or that best suits his local needs. 



110. Selection and crossing. — The plant-breeder im- 

 proves plants by two means : (1) by selection and (2) by 

 crossing. Selection is generally more important for the 

 breeder, and this is the only means of improvement that the 

 average farmer can advantageously practice. Crossing oc- 

 casionally serves a useful purpose in the hands of a skilled 

 breeder; but it usually destroys uniformity and must 

 always be followed by years of selection before its results 

 become of practical value. 



Selection of seed corn should be practiced by every 

 farmer, and it gives results even in the first crop. 



111. Qualities needing improvement. — Among the 

 qualities for which selection should be made in developing 

 varieties of corn for the Southern States are the following: — ■ 



(1) Increased yield. 



(2) Production of two ears per plant. 



(3) Improvement in the shape of ear and kernels. 



