CHAPTER XX. 



CORN BREEDING 



THE FARMER AS A CORN BREEDER 



Every farmer should grow the greater part of his own seed corn. 

 The idea that corn v/ill run out if grown for a long period in a given 

 locality is a fallacy. There is no corn so well adapted to a given lo- 

 cality as that which has been grown there and given intelligent selec- 

 tion for a period of years. Therefore, every farmer should have his 

 "Selection Bed" each year, from which he selects his seed corn for 

 the planting of his larger fields the following year. 



SECURING THE SEED FOR PLANTING THE SELECTION 



BED. In starting the "Selection Bed," seed may be secured from 

 three sources: 



1. From your own corn. 



2. From someone in your locality. 



3. From someone not in your locality. 



These will be discussed separately under their respective headings 



From Your Own Corn. As suggested above, this should be 

 the best source to secure the seed for starting the selection bed. Your 

 own corn may naturally be expected, after having been home grown 

 for a period of years, to be the best adapted to your own peculiar 

 climate and soil conditions. 



From Someone In Your Locality. If your own corn is badly 

 mixed, with no type, seed having been saved each year without any 

 special attention being paid to maturity and type, then, it is very prob- 

 able that a neighbor in the immediate locality, who has been careful 

 regarding these particulars, will be able to furnish seed which is 

 much more desirable than your own. This should be given a germi- 

 nation test, that all weak and worthless ears may be discarded. 



From Someone Not In Your Locality. It is to be hoped that 

 this will not be necessary. It is the least desirable source of the 

 three. When going outside your locality for seed, it is best to keep 



