8 
Nebraska Agricultural Exp. Station , Research Bui. 20 
rough and smooth ear types averaged during six years approxi- 
mately one-third as great for the ears harvested as for the ears 
planted. The progeny of the rough ears used in our disease 
study contained approximately 14 per cent more rough ears than 
did the progeny of the smooth ears; while on the other hand, 
the progeny of the smooth ears contained approximately 13 per 
cent more smooth ears than did the progeny of the rough ears. 
The progeny of the medium smooth ears was intermediate in 
both cases. 
5. Continuous selection and testing of ears high versus ears 
low on the stalk during five years resulted in a spread of 23 per 
cent in ear height and a corresponding spread of 10 per cent in 
stalk height, based on the low ear selections. The low ear selec- 
tions yielded 3.9 per cent more grain than the high ear selec- 
tions, but 3.0 per cent less than the original corn. During the 
same period continuous selection and testing of seed ears from 
standing versus lodged plants resulted in a yield 10.9 per cent 
greater for the standing than for the lodged plants, and 2.9 per 
cent greater yield than was secured from the original corn. 
Continuously selected, during five years, ears borne erect on 
the stalk, as compared with drooping ear selections, yielded re- 
spectively 5.1 and 0.7 per cent less than the original corn. 
6. In a six-year test, seed from the butts, tips, and middles 
yielded respectively 59.4, 00.4, and 60.2 bushels per acre. Little 
is to be gained from discarding butts or tips, aside from secur- 
ing a more even stand, and a better germination under certain 
conditions of freezing injury. , In a two-year test, corn selected 
when fully mature and at five weekly intervals before maturity 
yielded respectively 64.5, 64.0, 65.0, 63.0, 64.0, and 63.4 bushels 
per acre. The earlier selections required great care in curing. 
The data suggest that the selection of slightly immature seed 
corn to avoid freezing injury or for any other reason would not 
be objectionable if it is properly cured. 
7. Seed selections of high viability made during three 
years from the field in September, November, and March gave 
respective yields of 47.0, 48.3, and 49.8 bushels per acre, as com- 
pared with 49.2 bushels for corn selected in the ordinary man- 
ner at husking time. Altho the time of selecting seed corn is 
not a vital factor if good viability is secured, the most rational 
time suggested is just prior to any likelihood of fall freezing 
injury. Storage difficulties are reduced by permitting the corn 
to undergo as thoro curing as practicable in the field. 
8. Four methods of ear-to-row breeding have been compared. 
