412 PRACTICAL CORN CULTURE 
large ears because the very large ear is generally later in 
maturing. Hence, the kernel does not have the vitality pos- 
sessed by the kernel from the smaller ear. We believe, by 
carefully selecting our seed from the high yielding rows in 
the breeding plots and, at the same time, following the rules 
for field selection, we can accomplish as much in one year as 
we could in five by using field selection alone. We are so 
sure of this that we are conducting three breeding plots. 
Since the results of the breeding plots are always affected to a 
considerable extent by season and varying soil conditions, 
we are not prepared, as yet, to make the above statements 
dogmatically. It will take several more years’ experiment on 
our part to prove or disprove the above points. The breeder 
who guesses at results is a hindrance and not a help to 
corn improvement. 
There are other points, however, on which we are con- 
vineed beyond a doubt: First, a medium type of any variety 
of corn will out-yield a very rough type. The result of last 
year’s breeding indicates that the rough type averaged in 
yield only 89.6 per cent of that of the medium type. Mr. 
Chas. A. Rowe of Jacksonville has obtained practically these 
same results. 
Some breeders have had results proving that a very 
smooth type will out-yield the rough. We consider, however, 
the smooth type a dangerous extreme, since it does not dry 
out ag well as the rougher type. (The rougher the type the 
longer the average length of kernels.) Our results show 
that the detasseled rows do not yield as well as the rows 
where the tassels are not interfered with. Even if the work 
is carefully done, pulling the tassels euts the vield about 
5 per cent. The loss is correspondingly greater if the work 
is carelessly done. This shows that detasseling should be 
undertaken only in the breeding plot and for the express 
purpose of insuring cross pollenization. 
