458 



CORN 



yielded well, and have proved after a test the second spring that their 

 vitality is unimpaired, the real breeding of corn begins. 



SECOND YEAR.— Mating Individual Ears in the Breeding Block. 



Because of their high yield, 90 and 100 bushels respectively, ears Nos. 

 1 and 50 will be planted together in a breeding block 20 hills square. 

 In the odd numbered rows, 1-3-7-9-11-13-15-17-19, plant kernels 

 from ear No. i ; in the even numbered rows, 2-4-6-8- 10- 12- 14- 16- 18-20, 

 plant those from ear No. 50. Three kernels per hill is again prefer- 

 able. These should be planted by hand though some breeders practice 

 planting with a planter. These rows will not usually tassel at the 

 same time. Should they do so, there is little difference which row is 

 detasseled. If any preference is made, the strongest row of plants 

 should be detasseled, thus making them the mother stalks. When 

 the stalks from car No. I, that is, the odd numbered rows, begin to tas- 

 sel before those of ear No. 50, the even numbered rows, then detassel 

 the rows representing ear No. i, and vice versa. All weak stalks, 

 barren stalks, and suckers should be removed, as in "Farmers' Selec- 

 tion Bed." Silking ugually occurs a few days later than tasseling. 

 Hence, the silks of the detasseled rows will be in a receptive state 

 when the pollen of the later tasseling rows is ripened. 



EFFECT UF INBREEDING 

 The two rows in the center are d\v.irfed because of inbreeding. 



It will be seen that these two r(jvvs have now been mated. The 

 ears from the detasseled stalks should be saved for seed and the ears 

 from the other rows discarded from further breeding operations, be- 

 cause they are inbred. This covers the care for one block 20 hills 

 square. Where extensive lireeding operations are carried on, a number 

 of such isolated plots will be necessary. 



Advantages of the Breeding Block. 



I. Inbreeding is prevented. 



