CORN GROWING 219 



fully measured or weighed the following fall. All future seed 

 com is saved only from the heavy yielding rows. The best 

 ears are selected and planted again by this method. 



Danger of Mixing. — As the pollen of corn is carried by 

 wind for some distance there is danger in planting two varie- 

 ties too near each other. Any pure, well-selected corn should 

 be grown separately to avoid crossing. When corn has once 

 become pure or well fixed in character by methods of selection 

 and good breeding, it is very bad policy to allow any crossing 

 of varieties of strains to take place. Such a practice imme- 



FlG. 122. — Country Gentleman is one of the best varieties of sweet corn, medium 

 in season, (Pedigreed Seed Co., Hartsville, South Carolina.) 



diately sets up variations in the product which niake it impos- 

 sible for the corn breeder to know what to expect. Sweet corn 

 must not be grown near field corn, for the same reasons (Fig. 

 123). 



RAISING THE CHOP 



In the corn club work in most of the states the plots used 

 in the contests do not exceed one acre. As small a plot as 

 one-tenth acre has been specified in some contests. One- 

 quarter and one-half acre plots are frequently used. The 

 size of plot should be governed somewhat by the age of young 

 people admitted to the corn clubs. The first plowing of the 

 ground is usually done by some older person, but the harrow- 



