Corn Breeders' Association.— The organ ization of the Illinois Seed Corn Breeders' Association, in June 1900, marked the beginning of a widespread attempt to put corn breeding on a similar basis to that of live stock breeding. In fact, it has been found that corn breeding follows the same general laws as the breeding of animals. In other words, corn can be bred like cattle. This organization was founded by a few men, extensive growers of corn, and in most cases, noted breeders of live stock, who resolved to begin a careful selection of their own seed for planting, and if favorable results were obtained to offer such seed for general planting in regions suited to the development of the races they selected for breeding.. All seed sent out by members of the Association was carefully inspected by an officer of the State Experiment Station, tested for vitality, and ex amined for uniformity, trueness to type and freedom from mixture with other types of corn. All seed sold was sent out in the ear so that the man who purchased the seed could see for him self the type and character of the seed sent to him. The success of the plan was so great that other States at once followed the lead of this organization, and at present Iowa, Kansas, Ne braska, Indiana and Maryland have corn breed ers' associations, comprised of men who are systematically selecting their corn, for the most part in co-operation with the State Experiment Station. By means of such organized efforts, States have appropriated large sums of money for further experiments in corn breeding and culture so that progress is being made in this work at a rapid rate and valuable results are obtained of wide application and importance.
Some Standard Races of Corn.—The Illinois Seed Corn Breeders' Association recog nizes eight distinct races of corn, which are the basis for the development of many strains pro duced by individual breeders. These races, date of beginning selection, originators and place of origin are as follows: Boone County White, 1876, James Riley, Thorntown, Ind.
Silver Mine, 1890, J. H. Beagley, Sibley, Ill. White Superior, 1880, P. R. Sperry, Mon mouth, Ill.
Leaming, 1826, J. S. Learning, Wilmington, Ohio.
Reid's Yellow Dent, 1846, J. L. Reid, Dela van, Ill.
Golden Eagle, 1871, H. B. Perry, Toulon, Ill.
Riley's Favotite, 1885, James Riley, Thorn town, Ind.
Pride of the North, about 1890, F. A. War ner, Sibley, Ill.
From the growing of these races under widely varying conditions, and the effect of selection by individuals having different types in mind, a great many strains have been devel oped, which in time will probably come to be recognized as distinct races. New races will probably spring up as a result of the selection of naturally prepotent individuals whose pro jective efficiency is great enough to impress distinct characteristics upon the offspring and create new and dominant types. An illustra tion of this method of origin of new and domi nant races from striking individuals is found in the history of the Silver Mine race. Accord ing to the statement of the originator it sprung from a single ear, which was of such perfection that it attracted this grower's attention among an exhibit of several thousand ears of corn. This ear was carefully planted in an isolated patch and the crop carefully harvested and planted the next season in isolated fields. From this source the seed was obtained for the first general distribution, which has been followed by breeding experiments, and breeders taking up the race for continued improvement by selection.
One further result of the organization of corn breeders' associations has been the hold ing of exhibits of samples of corn selected by men who compete for certain prizes. In several
instances the number of samples brought to gether in such exhibits has exceeded several thousand, and in one or two instances the number of samples of 10 ears each has reached 10,000. The effect of such exhibits has been to awaken a wide general interest in improved types of corn and the methods and standards for judging these samples. During the past 10 years score cards and standards of per fection have been devised, which by continued revision have been developed to a state of great usefulness. The use of the score card is to compare, on a uniform basis, individual samples of a given race of corn. Owing to the fact that in the production of races for different purposes, and for different conditions, characteristic dif ferences in shape, size and other qualities have been developed, it has become necessary to have a standard for each of the established races.
In order to show some of the characteristics which go to make up a type, which are con sidered in the study of a race, the following table of characteristics of seven leading races of corn is presented.
Vitality of Seed.— One of the most im portant factors entering into the production of the corn crop is the vitality of seed. In planting the ears in individual rows or plats, one of the most notable facts which strike the observer is the great irregularity of size of plants in the different rows. One row, for instance, will be on the average a foot higher than the adjoining row and so on throughout the entire field. This irregularity in growth and finally in productive ness was not shown in the seed ears, because most cases the seed ears were so carefully selected for uniformity that they were absolutely alike to the casual observer. This difference in vigor of growth is due, in great measure at least, to differences in the vitality of the seed. This vitality tneans .the life of the seed, which is affected by age, storage, heredity and many other factors. The degree of vitality by the seed car can be partially measured before the seed is used for planting. No absolute measure can be made of the value of the seed ear,. but a comparatively accurate idea may be gained of the vitality by means of the germination test. We believe that the kernels in the individual ear are considerably alike in composition and in vitality, in fact in all general characteristics. It has been found that there is a slight variation between the individual kernels in the ear, but that this variation is not as great as the varia tion between different ears; so that by testing the vitality of the individual ears the most vigor ous may be piciced out for planting the breeding field. This test can be made by taldng out three kernels from near the tip, three from near the middle and three from near the butt of every ear. In cases where possible, it is more desirable to shell off two rows of kernels from each ear and test all of the kernels in each row. The kernels should be planted in moist sand, point down, or laid between layers of moist cloth. In this moist condition, and under a temperature of about 70° F., 95 per cent of the lcernels should sprout inside of three days, and should have sprouts one inch long at the end of five days. If the seed germinates more slowly than this standard it is an indication of weak ened vitality. In other words, the time required for germination is the indication of the degree of vitality. Weak seed of slow germination should be discarded, as it results in a poor stand, the most frequent cause of loss of profits to the grower.