Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 450, 1 December 1904, Page 2

Farm and Garden.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES. INTERESTING RESULTS IN GROWING PURE BRED CORN. SOME careful experiments were recently made in order to ascertain the actual benefits of using pure bred seed corn instead of planting a common variety so as to obtain the largest possible yield of corn from each acre of ground. One of the varieties best adapted to the locality was used in making the test. A certain number of perfect ears were selected from a breeding field; that corn and a common white variety was planted under exactly the same circumstances ; both had the same advantages of cultivation, the same rainfall and like richness of soil, but the result was that the pure bred corn yielded much more heavily than the common kind. On making cross sections of the cobs of corn, the well filled ends, the larger size and the long closely set kernels of the pure bred cob or ear was very apparent. The grains from tho cobs—puro bred and common - were removed from the cobs and placed in test tubes of equal size-, when the percentage of grain was seen to be much greater than that from the common ear. Tho shelled corn from the puro bred oar weighed fourteen and a half ounces, while, the grain from the common ear weighed but nine and a quarter ounces. In other words, thero was on the puro bred ear fifty per cent, more corn than on the common ear by actual weight. These two oars were not extremes in either case: both were selected as fair representatives of the ears produced by the pure bred and common seed. If one ear of pure bred corn produced fifty per cent, more grain than an ear of common variety, it is safe to assume that the results in the yield of an acre of corn will be in the same ratio. Corn breeding is simply following out the laws and principles which have, been demonstrated in animal breeding; As to the manner of breeding corn to secure good seed, a small area, usually an acre, is used ; that land is prepared as for ordinary field planting. For breeding the rows are planted from separate ears, and each row from a single ear of seed corn. This breeding block, as it is called, is usually planted along the same variety, and must be isolated at least half a mile from any other variety to avoid mixing of pollen; at tasselling timo the plot is carefully > inspected, and all weak, barren or inferior stalks are removed before the pollen is shed. When the corn is gathered, each row is husked separately, and the yield of the individual rows, planted from the individual ears, is secured—and it is that comparison that shows the true breeding gf the respective ears of corn. Tho yield from two ears of corn exactly alike may vary as much as at the rate of twenty-fivo to fifty bushels per acre. There are forty bushel ears and one hundred and twenty bushel ears very frequently in the same plot. Of course, the hundred and twenty bushel ear is the type desired, and the best ears from the best rows are selected for planting m next year's breeding plot. The seed for the rest of the farm can be selected from the next best rows. In this way the tendency of corn to produce plants yielding the most corn is preserved and developed. This plan of raising the standard and producing desirable seed corn has been followed with good results, and seed secured which produced ears containing fifty per cent, more grain than the ears of tho common variety grown under similar circumstances.' BREEDING DUCKS. The breeding stock, to begin with, should be a sturdy lot. Drakes should stand up well, be lofty fellows, with deep keel; ducks should be broad and deep, rather than long, but have length of body, without detracting from other qualities. When they are wanted to begin laying, give extra grain rations of corn and wheat with their every-day feed of cooked potatoes, made stiff With bran and pollard, and a little salt added. For a change raw carrots and cabbage are excellent. Always have water and grit in a certain place, easy for them to get at. Ducks, if allowed, will do a good deal of foraging if they are sure Of a drink when in need of it. Experience shows ' that when ducks have access to a pond of water fertile eggs are insured, while those deprived of swimming do not lay as many eggs, and fertility cannot be depended on. CARE OF YOUNG TURKEYS, Care should be taken in selecting a dry sunny place where the grass is short for rearing young turks, as dampness is fatal to them. It is considered best by many people not to pen them, as they cannot ! stand close confinement. Four long planks about one and a half feet wide, nailed together at the ends, make a nice lot to keep them in when quite young ; the hen can then be turned out, for she will not leave her young. After they become strong enough they can be turned out to roam at will. Light bread moistened with sweet milk makes good feed for the first week or so. NARCISSIS,' ;,'.'■■ Narcissisare among the choicest and most popular of our spring flowering bulbs, In recent years some of the species have come into prominence for winter forcing. When once planted the bulbs will increase arid remain established for many years.. The' bulbs must be planted in the autumn, and need no further care or protection. A beautiful variety is single puro white with red cup, and is one of the most valuable for cutting, the flowers being large and of great substance. They are easily grown, especially in pots in the bush-house, three bulbs being put in a five-inch pot. >' . '■