CORN GROWING 



217 



duces the kernels on the 

 cob. The spreading of 

 pollen to the silks is called 

 pollinating. With plants, 

 as with animals, it is im- 

 portant that both parents 

 of the offspring should 

 be healthy, vigorous, and 

 possess the best points of 

 their kind. If weak 

 stalks, which do not beai- 

 good ears, are used as one 

 of the parents of either 

 seed com or market com, 

 the results will be less 

 satisfactory than if both 

 paxents were strong in- 

 dividuals. 



It is good practice to 

 go over the corn-field, 

 where seed corn is to be 

 produced and cut the 

 tassels from all stalks 

 which are not promising. 

 This should be done be- 

 fore the tassels are ma- 

 ture and before any pol- 

 len has scattered through 

 the field. Much differ- 

 ence between stalks can 

 be noticed at that time. 

 Some will be strong and 



, ■,,, . Fig. 121. — Corn silka must receive the fine 



neaitny m appearance pollen dust from tassels of other stalks before 



., - ... . corn will form well. In this case little such 



and have the rudiments poUen was received. (U. s. d. a.) 



