CHAPTER XXI. 



CORN BREEDING 



FROM THE STANDPOINT OF REMAINING PERMA- 

 NENTLY IN THE BUSINESS 



There are some farmers and even large growers of corn who recog- 

 nize the value of good seed corn, but would rather purchase it each 

 year than endeavor to breed a small patch of their own. This is 

 especially true of men who have a number of tenants. Such men are 

 willing to pay three dollars per bushel for seed of good quality 

 and vitality. The price of marketable corn and that of beef and pork 

 enables them to do this economically. In other words, breeders of 

 pure bred corn will come to be a part of American agricultural de- 

 velopment. The opportunity for advancement in this line of work is 

 limited only by the capabilities of the man. 



Experiment Stations have tried for a number of years a number 

 of different methods in the breeding of corn. The prevention of in- 

 breeding and at the same time fixing type and desirable characteristics 

 without curtailing the yield, are problems which the corn breeder 

 must solve. Because of higher prices received for pure bred corn, 

 the corn breeder can afford to spend more time and money in turn- 

 ing out his product. 



A plan is here outlined which is brief and yet covers the main 

 points in question. It is the combination of the desirable methods 

 advocated by practical breeders and theorists. The figures used are 

 merely for illustration and comparison. The scale upon which a breed- 

 er caries on operations will necessarily determine the details of the 

 work at hand. The plan is presented as the most successful so fai 

 as present knowledge of corn breeding is concerned. Improvements 

 will come and are hopefully looked for. 



THE CORN BREEDER'S PLAN. Outside of the work at the 

 various Experiment Stations, there has been little done along the line 

 of corn breeding; or in fact, in grain breeding in general, including 

 improvement by selection. 



