THE “EAR TO THE ROW” BREEDING PLOT 115 
vidual rows would be of no advantage. We have had a 
breeding plot ruined by water standing in a depression in 
the center of the field. If the scales are to help select seed 
by pointing out high yielding strains, the stand must be 
uniform. 
This last summer of 1918, which was one of the dryest 
crop years we have ever seen, was a poor year for indicating 
the relative value of seed from the different rows. We do 
not consider our results from that year’s breeding to be of 
half the value of those obtained in 1911 and 1912. While 
these facts are discouraging, the corn breeder is still better 
off than the grower of pure bred hogs, who may lose his 
entire herd from cholera. : 
CARING FOR THE Brest Hars 
After the corn has been carefully husked and weighed, 
the best ears from the most desirable rows should be care- 
fully dried by laying on racks. The racks can be of wood 
or wire, or the corn can be strung on binder twine. If the 
breeding plot is gathered in October, it can safely be dried 
by hanging in a dry loft; but if gathered later, it is generally 
best to dry in a mildly heated room, since the germ might 
be injured by a sudden cold spell coming before the moisture 
was all out of the ear. 
One should never go to the other extreme and lay corn 
on boards over the furnace. This, of course, will soon dry 
the corn, but it will also cause some of the oil to evaporate, 
which undoubtedly weakens the germ. 
These methods of securing high yielding seed may seem 
too expensive to some, but when one stops to consider that an 
increase of only ten per cent often means a difference of 
from 100 to 400 bushels, on the average farm, one can see 
that this time is well spent. 
Corn shows and short courses in corn judging are for 
