224 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 



unintentionally, the purity of seed is injured 

 and perhaps new varieties are accidentally 

 begun. 



In crossing it is essential that the female" 

 parts of the plant be kept covered, so that the 

 only pollen to, come in contact with the pistil 

 shall be of the variety it is desired to cross 

 with. The following is given by McCluer as 

 the method most satisfactory at the Illinois 

 station :* 



"We have found the best method to be to cover up, before 

 the silks are oiit, both the tassel and the coming ear, with a 

 closely-woven cloth bag. Covering the tassel of the stalk 

 desired for a male parent insures a full sUpply of pollen, 

 which seems to retain its vitality for several days if kept 

 dry. * « * When the silks reach a length of three or 

 four inches the ear is ready for fertilization. We then 

 gather the pollen on a sheet of smooth paper and roll it up 

 funnel-shaped. Next raise an umbrella and hold it in such 

 a way as to keep all flying pollen from the ear, remove the 

 bag, and apply the pollen until the silks are almost hidden. 

 In favorable corn weather a single application of pollen is 

 sufl&oient." 



The practical results of cross fertilization to 

 produce new varieties are as yet slightly felt, 

 so far as experimental data goes. The results 

 now published are interesting, yet contain 

 much o-f uncertainty. Morrow and Gardner 

 think, however,! that increased yields can be 

 obtained by crossing two varieties, and note 



* Tllinois experiment station. Bulletin No, 31, p. 100. 

 t Md., No. 25, April, 1893, p. 179. 



