JUDGING AND SELECTION 255 



that are thoroughly dry yield a greater percentage than those CHAP, 

 which are still wet. If the yield of grain per ear is obtained, VL 

 there appears to be little — if any — -advantage in scoring for 

 percentage ; it is the total weight of grain which we wish to 

 increase, and whether it is borne on a thin or a comparatively 

 thick cob is immaterial. Experience shows that very thin 

 cobs do not give such heavy yields of grain as comparatively 

 thick ones. 



2 11. Triteness to Type and Breed Characteristics. — In live- 

 stock breeding the desirability of keeping to uniform types is 

 universally recognized. It is equally important in plant- 

 breeding, but the principle is less rigorously applied because 

 the types of farm crops are not so definitely fixed. Stock- 

 breeding on systematic lines has been practised for many 

 generations ; maize-breeding on definite lines is much younger, 

 and in some cases the types change as the breeds improve. 

 But even in maize, standards have been set by Breeders' As- 

 sociations, for the older and well-established breeds, and where 

 this is the case it is desirable to adhere to them. 



Variations of one sort or another are met with, more or 

 less frequently, in most breeds of animals and plants ; these 

 are culled out by the careful breeder. If any such variation 

 is likely to prove beneficial, the individuals showing it may be 

 isolated and inter-bred in order to " fix " the new character, 

 and by this means new strains, races, or breeds may be pro- 

 duced. But it is not desirable to start new breeds unless their 

 distinctive characters are clearly worth having ; there is far too 

 much naming and propagating of novelties based on trivial or 

 unstable characters. Such "new creations" often lead to 

 bitter disappointment on the part of the grower ; the farmer 

 would be wise to await the verdict of a competent Breeders' 

 Association before spending time and money over untried 

 novelties, and the Show Committee should not include them 

 in the prize list without good authority. 



Selection to type is necessary to the preservation of the 

 characteristics of the breed, and also to the development of 

 that uniformity which is essential to the production of the best 

 merchantable article. With maize it is not always easy to 

 furnish a written description of the breed characteristics, which 

 could be recognized by anyone unfamiliar with them ; in 

 judging this point experience is the best guide. 



