BREEDING AND SELECTION 



59 



Otherwise the undesirable characteristics will crop out 

 from time to time, and will hinder improvement. 



The color of the variety is unimportant, except that 

 there is frequently a prejudice in favor of a particular 

 color in a neighborhood, or among a certain class of 

 corn growers. A farmer who has always grown white 

 corn is apt to fancy that color, and vice versa. In any 



Cross-bred 



Self-fertilized 



Fig 18— Effect of Inbreeding 



Small stalks inbred; larg-e stalks cross-bred 



case, the breeder must select a color that he desires 

 and likes. Otherwise, he will not so readily become 

 attached to his particular strain. It is unwise, however, 

 to begin with any variety which is unusual, as a striped 

 kernel, but more judicious to select a solid, deep, 

 strong color. 



