CORN BREEDING 



29 



increase production. If these potatoes are small, the offspring will 

 tend to be small, if large the offspring will tend to be large. By 

 noting the yield from each hill or plant, we are able to greatly 

 improve our seed supply. 



The yield of each plant can be saved separately by placing 

 them in separate bags. Give each bag a number. Next season 

 plant each of these lots in separate rows with stakes indicating the 

 number. Then test the total yield of each row. 



If each hill in this generation is saved for seed in separate bags, 

 the best of the best will show greatly improved yields. We will 

 find the results multiplied many fold. This is called the hill-row 

 method of improving potatoes. 



Corn Breeding. — Every corn grower should have some system 

 of producing his own seed corn. He may have a seed plot where 



Fig. 16. — Good seed produces more than poor seed. These yields were from the same 

 amounts of seed potatoes. 



he does the selecting very carefully. He should have this plot 

 located where pollen cannot mix from nearby fields. Many gar- 

 deners and farmers select their seed corn from the westerly side of 

 the main field because the wind prevails from that direction and 

 little if any mixing occurs from the east side of the field. If the 

 best corn is planted each year the continued improvement will be 

 very noticeable. It is a well established fact that corn is more 

 vigorous when not self-pollinated. If pollen is obtained from other 

 stalks of the same kind, the seed will be more vigorous. To insure 

 cross-pollination, the tassels from every other row may be cut off 

 before they scatter any pollen. Then the seed corn may be saved 

 from the detasseled stalks. 



It should be remembered that there are in all fields a few stalks 

 which are barren or nearly so. These stalks should never be allowed 



