8 
Nebraska Experiment Station Research Bulletin 19 
may be concluded from both of the above tests that native seed 
is in general superior to imported seed. However, it is entirely 
possible to secure seed, (1) from neighboring farmers. (2) from 
a distance within one’s own state, and (8) from other states, 
which may be substituted for the native home grown seed with- 
out detriment. Nevertheless, the importation of seed corn from 
a distance is hazardous. 
Lines of greatest type similarity run diagonally across the 
State in a northeasterly and a southwesterly direction. Along 
such lines the more favorable temperature and longer growing 
season of the south tends to counterbalance the more favorable 
precipitation of the north in their effects upon the hereditary 
growth habits of corn. When seed corn is moved far within the 
State, it is usually safest to move along such lines. 
Corn native to dry-land regions is often credited with es- 
pecially high efficiency in grain production. In contrast with 
corn native to more humid regions, it is said to produce a 
relatively large amount of grain in proportion to its vegetative 
growth. The data in these investigations fail to substantiate 
such a relationship. To some extent at least, this apparently 
erroneous conception is due to faulty methods of comparison. 
To illustrate, small early types are frequently moved to more 
favorable conditions and compared there with larger types at 
planting rates normal for the larger corn. Such a planting rate 
provides relatively more optimum conditions for the individual 
plants of the smaller types which frequently results in a higher 
proportion of grain production. 
As an average for 1915 and 1916, the ratio of grain to 
stover (stalk and leaves) for eastern, central, and western Ne- 
braska types grown in their home environment were respectively. 
.98, .84, and .68. In 1916, when eastern, central, and western 
Nebraska types were grown under the favorable conditions of 
Lancaster County, the respective ratios were, 1.04, .84. and .8-1. 
When the same three groups of corn were grown in Thurston 
County with conditions slightly more unfavorable for the large 
eastern Nebraska types and yet highly favorable for the early 
western types, respective ratios were, .65, .82, and 1.02. When 
grown in extreme western Nebraska (Kimball County), these 
ratios were respectively .11. .52, and .79. In these last two com- 
parisons the western types are at a great advantage because of 
fuller maturity, but the increased proportion of grain to stover 
is due to the environmental adaptation and not to any principle 
of greater inherent efficiency of the western plant. 
The practical conclusions deducted from the data in this 
bulletin are borne out by observations and experiences in the 
practical farm operations thruout the State. 
