METHODS OF LAYING OUT A BREEDING-PLAT 99 



seed from the best two or three rows may now be used 

 as foundation stock for a select strain of corn. When the 

 original ears are large, there will be quite a remnant left 

 even after testing two years. 



72. Continuation of breeding, several plans. — After 

 the second year, a choice of several plans may be 

 followed : — 



1. Progeny of the best rows may be planted in a mul- 

 tiplj-ing field for seed. Seed of this kind has given an 

 increase of 9 bushels per acre (p. 92, Class II). It prob- 

 ably will not maintain its increased yield more than a 

 few years without continued selection. 



2. Ears may be selected from the best-yielding rows and 

 the ear-row selection work continued. In this case it 

 would be best to use some plan for preventing close breed- 

 ing. Detassel every alternate ear-row plat having un- 

 related rows on each side. Save seed ears only from the 

 best detasseled plats. This may be continued indefinitely, 

 but it is probable that new ear-row plats should be started 

 every two or three years for the purpose of securing new 

 ears to be used as sire rows in the breeding block, thus 

 giving a new stimulus through crossing. No work has 

 yet been reported to show just what results are to be 

 expected. 



3. The original ear remnants may be used in a breed- 

 ing block. Williams advocates this, using the best one 

 or two ears for sires and detasseling the rest. The ear- 

 row test is to be continued each year, securing ears from 

 various sources, as the breeding-plat, general crop, or 

 registered ears from other breeders. Each year the best 

 remnants will be saved to be crossed the following year 

 and passed into the multiplying plat the following season. 



4. As the best-yielding ears may be hybrids of the 



