SELECTING SEED MAIZE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19438, 26 October 1925, Page 9

SELECTING SEED MAIZE

DEPTH OF GRAIN. There are certain fundamental points in the selection of seed ears of any variety of maize, the observance of which makes for continuous improvement. The chief of these points are weight of ear and percentage of grain per ear, shape, length and circumference of oar, filling of tips and winding of butts, uniformity, depth and shape of grain, and space between the rows and grains. Combined with greater attention to field characters and to uniformity in the main characters which define a variety of maize (period of maturity, colour of grain and core, size of grain and character of dent), it is impossible to effect fairly rapid improvement, especially by the establishment of special seed plots in which eross-fertilisation takes place only between these more desirable types.

As the size of the ears in a field of maize is dependent on the season, soil, thickness of planting and other factors, do definite rules can be laid down as to the best available size to select. There is, however, a standard ear length for different varieties grown under average conditions, and it is wise not to depart much, if possible, from the standard. For instance, late varieties have naturally a larger car than early varieties, and the selection of large ears for early varieties and small ears for late varieties is not productive of the best results when the standard size is available from the same crop. An example of this was afforded in a striking manner in an -ear-row test with Gold Standard Learning, an early variety. If the conditions during a particular season have been such that the standard ear length of the variety is not reached, it is usually thought that the crop is not good enough for seed, and the general practice is to introduce fresh seed from an outside, source. This is a practice which cannot be too strongly condemned. Owing to its not being acclimatised, the introduced seed

cannot put forth its maximum production, and loss of yield results, not only th© first year, but also perhaps the second and thifd years, until the new strain becomes thoroughly adapted to its new environment in the way of climate and soil.

One of the most important points in the selection of seed ears is to choose those of average size which are heavy in proportion to their size when dry. Very few ears selected in th hi way by j rough estimation of weight in the hand I have to be thrown out for poor grain when shelling. It is only natural to 1 expect to find good grain on those cars that weigh well (especially in proportion to their size), since from 80 to 85 per cent, of the total weight of most cars consists of grain. In selecting a very large number of ears for a bulk of shelled grain to plant a large area, it is obviously impossible to go into the finer points which should be considered in selecting ears to plant a special seed plot, and selection for this point (good weight for size of ear), is one of the I most important factors to bo considered, not only in this but in all cases.

With the standard length that is ex pected of well-grown cars, there is also a standard circumference of the best ears, which varies from three-quarters to four-fifths of the length. It is by no means intended that the selection for circumfercDice of ear should be made by actual measurement, and that all those ears should be discarded which do not come within the aforesaid proportions; but the above figures are those of a well-shaped ear, which can be readily picked out by rough judgment, and such ears arc much more de-

sirable than those which have an excessive circumference for their length, or vice versa, as both these latter types are usually lower yielding. The depth of grain it* a factor which must be taken into account when considering the size cf the core. Firstly, it is well to remember that the larger the cere the greater .amount of grain, it is able to carry, and there is no objection to a core of moderate size for this reason. There is, however, a limit beyond which it is inadvisable to go; partly because a core of excessive size takes a considerable time to dry out, and the grain on the car is likely to develop mould in storage, and partly because of the corresponding increase in the thickness of the shank which supports the ear and keeps it erect at maturity, instead of allowing it to droop and be resistant to the weather,. At the same time a small circumference of ear should be looked on with suspicion until the depth of grain is noted, for many ears of narrow diameter arc duo to a shallow grain.