—————— ee 
-SHUCK PROTECTION FOR EAR CORN. 15 
of shucks they could supply, but up to the present time there has 
been an insufficient quantity available to justify the paper com- 
panies in entering the market for them. Wherever such data could 
be obtained it was found that the amount obtained from the sale of 
shucks fully covered the cost of shelling and separation, and there 
seems to be no chance of an overproduction. It appears, therefore, 
that increased shuck protection need not increase the present cost 
of shucking. 
THE PRODUCTION OF BETTER SHUCK PROTECTION. 
There is abundant evidence to indicate that shuck covering re- 
sponds to selection. Some of this evidence is summarized as follows: 
(1) Varieties native to weevil-infested sections usually have a higher 
percentage of ears in good shucks than do those native to sections 
where no weevils are found. (2) Varieties native to sections with 
comparatively few weevils and with poor shuck covering, after having 
been grown for a number of years in sections very seriously infested 
with weevils, were found to have as good shuck coverings and as much 
resistance to weevils as the average native variety. (3) The per- 
centage of ears in good shucks has been increased by systematic 
selection. 
All the known efforts in this line of selection have been of short 
duration, but they indicate that with similar methods and equal 
effort progress will be as rapid as that in other lines of selection. 
Further investigations are required to determine all the points to 
be desired in the ideal shuck covering, but it is certain that the por- 
tion of the shucks that extends beyond the tips of the ears should 
be very long and that it should fit tightly about the silks. 
The shuck covering can probably be improved in any variety, but 
some varieties have a greater range of shuck variation than others, 
and, with other qualities equally good, it would be desirable to start 
systematic breeding with one of these. Even in those varieties 
offering the greatest opportunities the ears with ideal shuck exten- 
sions are exceptionally rare. With varieties in this low state of 
selection it will necessarily require several years of the most. exacting 
selection to attain uniform success. The breeder, however, should be 
encouraged in his efforts by the thought that while he must begin with 
exceptionally little, the advantage resulting from complete success — 
will be exceptionally pronounced. Certainly the man who has 
labored to produce higher yields by selection should be attracted by 
this promising opportunity to save a part of the corn crop. It is 
usually impossible to prove that the breeder has increased the 
yielding power of his variety by selection, but the results of selection 
for better shuck protection are apparent to the eye. 3 
> 
