CORN 129 



ance than those selected from the stalk. Corn from 

 the two selections when planted side by side showed 

 an average gain for two years of 3.8 bushels an 

 acre in favor of the plant-selected seed. 



Another thing in favor of the field selection is 

 the power to overcome or counteract undesirable 

 characteristics in the plant. On rich, first bottom 

 soil the corn has a tendency to grow very tall and 

 to produce the ears high up on the stalk. This is 

 undesirable, a& it makes the corn difficult to handle 

 and increase the tendency to go down during heavy 

 windstorms. In field selections on such a land, 

 pass by the ears that are above your heads and 

 select only those that are produced at a desirable 

 height on the stalk. 



In the field, make the selection of seed ears with 

 respect to normal stand, vigor of plant and the 

 height of the ear on the stalk. In the sorting after 

 husking, make the selection with reference to ma- 

 turity, conformation to type and seed condition. 

 If the storage capacity is sufficiently large this final 

 sorting and selection may be delayed until a con- 

 venient time in the winter or early spring, other- 

 wise it should be done as the corn is placed on the 

 drying racks. In order to do this final sorting 

 effectively and make an intelligent selection, have 

 in mind an ideal ear and make all selections with 

 this ideal in view. Color, shape of ear and other 

 physical characteristics are considered and made to 

 conform to the true ideal as nearly as possible. 

 Discard all ears that are chaffy and immature. Very 

 smooth, flinty ears are to be avoided because they 

 usually have shallow grains and a low proportion 

 of grain to cob. 



Tfie selected corn should be taken to a dry, well- 



