PURE BRED AND HIGH GRADE SEED 463 



Outline to Be Followed By the Corn Breeder. 



The corn breeder's method as herein outlined, is as follows : 



First year, trial plot of individual ears. 



Second year, trial plot — breeding block. 



Third year, trial plot — breeding blocks — increase beds. 



In addition to the above will be the general fields, which, partly 

 during the third year and entirely so the fourth, may be planted from 

 the pure bred seed from the "increase bed." 



PURE BRED AND HIGH GRADE SEED. The corn produced 

 in the increase beds may be classed as "pure bred" seed corn. As a 

 definite line of breeding has thus been followed out, the parentage of 

 the ears may be thus traced back to the individual ear row test. The 

 corn breeder will, no doubt, have other of his larger fields in corn, 

 the seed of which was secured from that which was left over from the 

 breeding blocks after he had selected the best of it to put in the "in- 

 crease beds." In this general field he has done no detasseling, but 

 merely has a mixture of this high yielding corn secured from the vari- 

 ous breeding blocks in which he was mating different high yielding 

 ears. The corn produced in these general fields may be classed as 

 "high grade seed." These two terms, "pure bred" and "high grade" 

 may be looked upon as synonymous to the similar terms used with 

 live stock ; in one case, as With "pure bred" it is possible to give a pedi- 

 gree; in the second, it is not. It will thus be seen that when selec- 

 tions made from the progeny of high yielding ears are brought to- 

 gether in a common field, the breeding identity is lost track of; the 

 product, however, may be called "high grade seed." When ears are 

 mated, as in the "increase bed," it is possible to give them definite lines 

 of breeding and it may thus be classed as "pure bred" seed. 



SOME POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE SEED CORN 

 BREEDER. The successful seed corn breeder must be able to dis- 

 pose of his product. Many men of intelligent observation and love 

 for plant breeding can develop a desirable type of corn. Few men are 

 fitted for salesmen. Judicious advertising solves the question of se- 

 curing customers. The farmer buys many things because of the wide 

 circulation of farm papers giving descriptions of ofifered articles. The 

 corn breeder should be very careful, supplying only such seed as may 

 be depended upon to give satisfactory results. This insures patronage 

 in the future. The new law passed by the State Legislature of Iowa, 

 provides that seed corn sold to patrons by seed firms, rnust show a 



