ON CORN 



sweet corns, besides several strains that have been 

 greatly improved by selection and then turned 

 over to various seedsmen. 



Reference has been made alsb to the experi- 

 ments through which the kernels of corn were 

 made to produce more protein or more starch, as 

 the case might be. These experiments have prac- 

 tical importance because a corn to be used as 

 fodder should have a high protein content, whereas 

 grain to be used for making starch or for purposes 

 of distillation should have a high starch content. 

 The oil content can also be similarly increased or 

 diminished at will. 



By selection alone it is possible to modify these 

 qualities, and they can be accentuated, modified, 

 combined or separated through the crossing of 

 different varieties. 



All in all, the great American cereal offers in- 

 terest for the plant developer somewhat commen- 

 surate with the economic importance of the plant 

 itself. Much has been done, but there is still ample 

 opportunity for the improvement of different vari- 

 eties, and for the development of specialized new 

 varieties differing as to their sugar content, as to 

 time of ripening, and the like. 



No plant is easier to experiment with for the 

 amateur, and few plants offer better prospects of 

 interesting developments. 



[43] 



