These photos show one of the most important steps in the production of a
new corn hybrid. In the left photo, the top of an emerging female shoot is cut
off. In the center photo, a plastic bag is placed over the shoot to prevent
Part of the work crew at the Funk a bite of lunch,
corn research laboratory pausing for
PENN-JERSEY HARVESTORE
SYSTEMS, Inc.
P. O. BOX 91
HARVESTORE Fed Cows
Produce More Milk
NEW HOLLAND, PA.
PHONE 717-354-5171
stray pollen from falling onto the silks as they emerge. The photo at the
right shows a plant with silks almost ready for pollination.
Corn
[Continued from Page 16]
susceptible to a particular
disease, there’s almost
certain to be dozens of others
that are resistant. So even if
some crop is wiped out,
you’ve still got a lot of com
grown.”
Leaf blight and stalk rot
are two problems faced by
Pennsylvania com growers,
so Edmondson checks his
hybrid candidates for
resistance to the diseases.
He inoculates the plants with
the diseases, and unless they
can stand up to the stress of
inoculation, they are never
released for sale in this area.
Another stress Edmondson
is working on is late plan
ting. “Fanners here do a lot
of double-cropping,” he
explained. “You especially
FORAGE WAGONS
READY FOR DELIVERY AT OLD PRICES
SAVE UP TO 9%
Your HOLLAISD Dealer
C. E. WILEY & SON Inc.
Quarryville, Pa. Phone; 786-2895
Lancaster Farming. Saturday, August 3,1974
find a lot of com planted
after barley. We planted
some com in late June and
early July. We’re trying to
see if we can get a variety
that will stand up to late
planting and still give us a
respectacle yield.”
There is a lot of handwork
involved in operating a com
breeding laboratoy, and
Edmondson has the bands of
■■■"ATTKNTIOII'fIBi
DAIRYMEN'S SUPER SPECIALS
"MAES INFLATIONS" 95 c each
24-Post Paid. Cash w/order.
FITS; SURGE. JET-FLO, BOUMATIC, DELAVAL.
Fly Sprays, Powers, Cattle Dust Bags, Siiaxe Preservative, Mineral
Feeders, Farm Gates, Hog Feeders, Heated Waterers.
ZIMMERMAN’S Animal Health Supply
3 Miles W. of Ephrata along WOOOCORNER ROAD
RD M, Utib, Pa. 17543 Phone 717-733-4466
30 local high school boys
helping him every summer.
They lop off tassles, cover
female shoots with plastic
bags to prevent them from
being fertilized by stray
pollen, then fertilize the
shoots at the proper time
with pollen taken from a
particular plant. About half
the youngsters come from
area farms.
17