196 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



At least 100 ears should be selected. A still greater number 

 will be better as exceptional ears are rather scarce. 



239. Selecting the breeding plot. — The comparative 

 trial of the progeny of the ears selebted in the field is made 

 on a selected plot, usually called the breeding plot. As 

 the value of this test depends on being able to make an 

 accurate comparison of the yields from the different ears, 

 it is extremely important that the plot selected be of as 

 uniform productiveness throughout as possible. The 

 soil need not be rich, but should be of average productive- 

 ness, and if possible should be sufficiently isolated to pre- 

 vent the selected seed from becoming contaminated by 

 pollen from unbred varieties. As pollen is often carried a 

 quarter of a mile by the wind, the isolation of the breeding 

 plot is often impossible, and other precautions, mentioned 

 in the succeeding paragraph, must be resorted to. The 

 breeding plot should be sufficiently large to admit of 

 planting at least 100 rows of at least 100 hills in length. 



240. Second year. — By means of a marker or a 

 small plow the breeding plot should be laid off in checks 

 3J/^ feet apart. Next, the kernels of each selected ear are 

 planted in groups, the first row being planted from the 

 kernels of one ear, the second row containing the progeny 

 of a second ear and so on until the 100 ears are planted. 

 The usual method is to carry the ear, and shell off the 

 grains as needed. Three or four grains should be planted 

 in each hill to insure a stand. Later the corn should be 

 thinned to one stalk in a hill. 



As it is practically impossible to secure an absolutely 

 imiform plot of land for this work, it is well to omit every 

 fifth row in planting the select ears, these rows to be im- 

 mediately planted with a uniform lot of corn. The yield 

 of these rows that are planted from uniform seed will 



