62 



THE BOOK OF CORN 



if possible, is to isolate the breeding plat. It has even 

 been suggested that for very highly-bred corn it may 

 pay to raise a small plat under a cheesecloth shed, ac-. 

 cording to this new practice in tobacco culture, though 

 this is not practical on a large scale. The breeding 

 area must be so planned that every seed ear is planted 

 in a definite space. There are two general ways of do- 

 ing this and both give satisfactory results. Whether 



Cross-pollinated 



Self-fertilized 



Fig 19— Effect of Three Years' Inbreeding 



Large stalks and ears cross-pollinated ; small stalks and ears inbred 



there is any special benefit in either plan is not known, 

 and it remains for future experience to demonstrate 

 the best methods of planting. The two systems are 

 called the plat and the row systems. In the plat system 

 a plat usually ten hills square is planted from a seed 

 ear. This plat is definitely located and any remaining 

 kernels on the ear are preserved, properly marked, for 

 future reference. The plats are arranged in a square 



