MAIZE 



MAIZE 



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numbered : 2, 6, 10, 4, 8, 12, 2, 6, 10, 4, 8, 12. The 

 alternating even numbers are repeated in sets of 

 three and six. The odd-numbered rows are planted 

 with sire seed selected from rows numbered : 76, 

 80, 84, 78, 82; 86, 78, 82, 86, 76, 80, 84. This is 

 the same order as for the dams except that the 

 two sets of three are reversed in the second set of 

 six. The only change required for odd-numbered 

 years is to transpose the two sets of six in plant- 

 ing the sire seed. Exactly the same system is used 

 in each quarter of the breeding plot. 



Arranging seed ears for planting. 



By referring to the "Model example for an even 

 year," it will be seen that it becomes an easy mat- 

 ter to follow the "guide system" in arranging seed 

 ears for planting. Suppose, for example, that in 

 1905 the best six rows in the first quarter of the 

 breeding plot are 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 20. Then for the 

 dam seed for planting the first quarter in 1906 

 these numbers in ascending order are to be substi- 

 tuted for the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, which are 

 given in the "guide system." Thus : For 2, substi- 

 tute 4 ; for 4, substitute 8 ; for 6, substitute 10 ; 

 for 8, substitute 14 ; for 10, substitute 16 ; for 12, 

 substitute 20. 



Arranging these for planting the field rows, we 

 have: 



If the best six rows in the fourth quarter of the 



1905 breeding plot are 76, 80, 84, 86, 90, 92, then 

 for the sire seed for planting the first quarter in 



1906 these numbers are to be substituted in regular 

 order for the numbers 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, which 

 are given in the "guide system." Arranging these 

 by threes as indicated in the "guide system," we 

 have the order for planting the odd-numbered rows 

 in the first quarter : 76, 84, 90, 80, 86, 92, 80, 86, 

 92, 76, 84, 90. Thus we have both the dam and sire 

 seed ears for the first quarter, arranged exactly as 

 shown under the heading, "model example" in 

 Table I. The seed ears are arranged for each 

 quarter of the breeding plot in a similar way by 

 following the "guide system" and substituting in 

 regular ascending order the actual numbers of the 

 best-yielding rows for the numbers given in the 

 "guide system" in Table I. 



With this selection of best row's, as given in 

 the "model example," we would take the best four 

 seed ears from row No. 4 (1905) and plant two as 



dam ears in rows 2 and 14 and the other two as 

 sire ears in rows 51 and 69 (1906); we would take 

 the four best seed ears from row No. 84 (1905) 

 and plant two as dam ears in rows 78 and 90 and 

 the other two as sire 

 ears in rows 3 and 21 

 (1906). 



In arranging seed ears 

 selected from the 1906 

 breeding plot for plant- 

 ing the 1907 breeding 

 plot, we are to follow 

 the "guide system" for 

 odd -numbered years, 

 again returning to the 

 system for even -num- 

 bered years for 1908. 



Multiplying plot. 



Seed for a multiplying 

 plot of ten acres or more 

 should be taken only 

 from the selected rows 

 of the breeding plot, 

 and may include all good 

 seed corn which is not 

 required for the breed- 

 ing plot. This seed 

 should be well mixed to- 

 gether. The corn in the 

 multiplying plot should 

 be protected carefully 

 from foreign pollen, and 

 all inferior stalks may 

 be detasseled, to elimi- 

 nate their influence on neighboring plants. The 

 exact yield of the multiplying plot should be deter- 

 mined and registered. 



Commercial field. 



The seed for the commercial field should com- 

 prise only the very best obtainable seed corn from 

 the multiplying plot. The exact yield of the com- 

 mercial field should always be determined and reg- 

 istered. From the commercial field the finest ears 

 may be selected and sold to the trade as registered 

 seed corn. 



Description , of individual ears. 



Register number. — As soon as any ear of a given 

 variety and strain is selected to be planted in a 

 breeding plot by a given breeder it is given a 

 register number, which must, of course, represent 

 that particular ear only and for all time. By using 

 a certain system of numbering, we not only are 

 able to designate the ear but can show at the same 

 time the year of its breeding or the number of its 

 generation, and the field row in which it is planted. 

 This we do by starting the first year in the 100 

 series, numbering the ears to be planted in suc- 

 cession from 101 to 148 and 151 to 198, and the 

 second year starting the 200 series, running from 

 201 to 248 and 251 to 298, and so on, as far as 

 may be necessary, starting each succeeding year 

 with a higher hundred. 



Fig. 648. 

 A productive hiU of com. 



