CORN BREEDING 138 



120. Ear-to-row system. — This method consists in 

 planting in one row only the seed from a single ear or from 

 part of a single ear. At harvest time the yield of each 

 row is determined separately. The best rows indicate 

 which parent ear was best able to transmit its good quali- 

 ties (Fig. 71 ) . By selecting for seed the best plants on these 

 best rows, and again planting each ear on a separate row, im- 

 provement is rapid, — provided the breeder, year after 

 year, aims at the selection and perpetuation of the same 

 good qualities. 



Moreover, since self-fertilization year after year causes 

 corn to deteriorate, it is advisable to prevent this by re- 

 moving, as soon as they appear, the tassels from the rows 

 on which seed-ears are to be selected. • 



In a breeding-patch in which this system is pursued 

 proceed as follows : — 



121. Details of ear-to-row system of corn breeding. — 

 Select about 100 of the best ears obtainable from the given 

 variety. From these discard all except 48, or other 

 larger nmnber, of the heaviest, best, and most uniform. 

 Secure very uniform land and lay off as many rows as 

 there are ears to be planted, say 48, noting that the two 

 ends of all the rows are of apparently uniform fertility. 



On each row, plant the greater part of a single ear, plac- 

 ing the best ears near the center of the plot (Fig. 72). The 

 rows should be of uniform width and of such length as to 

 contain at least 150 hills, the hills being in checks at a uni- 

 form distance apart. If practicable, preserve until after 

 harvest time the unplanted grains on each ear, as the best 

 of these remnants may be needed for planting the next 

 year. 



