Dublin in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Field of Corn

Hybridization

—Fourth of Multiple Markers —

Field of Corn Marker image. Click for full size.

By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 31, 2017

1. Field of Corn Marker

Inscription. Hybridization revolutionized the production of corn in North America and worldwide in the 20th century. Cross-pollinating two distinct varieties of corn or other plants can result in hybrids that are stronger and more resistant to drought and disease, and that produce higher yields than either “parent” variety. Native Americans and early settlers had experimented with many ways to improve corn, but the first commericial hybrid corn was not produced until 1918. The breakthrough came when American agricultural researchers crossed the offspring of two hybrid strains to create a double- cross hybrid. They learned to control pollination by placing paper bags on corn ears and tassels, removing them only to pollinate the plants by hand. Like most corn grown in the 1900s, the variety depicted here is a double-cross hybrid called Corn Belt dent corn, which has between 14 and 22 rows of yellow kernels and a small dimple or dent, on the end of the kernels. The basic “parents” of dent corn are Northern flint corn and Southern gourdseed corn. Sam Frantz, who farmed this site from 1935 to 1963, was well known for his development of hybrid corn seeds. He worked with The Ohio State University on corn hybridization projects and served on the United States Department of Agriculture Seed Authority Committee.

Erected

By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 31, 2017

2. Field of Corn Marker

marker is under the trees behind the "Field of Corn"

1994 by Dublin Arts Council.

Location. 40° 5.086′ N, 83° 7.435′ W. Marker is in Dublin, Ohio, in Franklin County. Marker is on Rings Road near Frantz Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4995 Rings Rd, Dublin OH 43017, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Field of Corn (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Field of Corn (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Field of Corn (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Field of Corn (within shouting distance of this marker); Dublin Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); History of Dublin’s Town Pump (approx. 1.2 miles away); Indian Run Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dublin Veterans Park (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dublin.

Categories. • Agriculture •

By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 31, 2017

3. Field of Corn Marker

By Rev. Ronald Irick, August 31, 2017

4. Field of Corn Marker

one of the ears from the "Field of Corn"

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2017. This page originally submitted on September 4, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 4, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.