184 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



made by this Association to do more than stimulate systematic 

 work in every feature of seed development. Xo standard of 

 size, length of ear, or shape of kernel can be arbitrarily fixed 

 today without retarding progress. Those who come amongst 

 us from the great corn belt cannot force their ideal of type 

 without inflicting lasting injury to corn growers here. Our 

 nearness to the front line, with the variety of soil conditions, 

 must necessitate freedom of individual effort though the end 

 aimed at be one and the same. When certain fundamentals are 

 reached it will be ample time to discuss uniformity of type. 

 These have to do with germination, growth, size, and vigor of 

 stalk, and ear development as well as cob shaj^Cj per one hun- 

 dred kernels of seed. 



In addition I believe it would be well for the Executive Com- 

 mittee to be governed by the following conditions in organizing 

 the exhibition of 1912. 



CONDITIONS. 



First — All exhibits shall be made in the name of farm or 

 owner of farm on which the exhibit is produced. Any attempt 

 at evasion will disqualify all exhibits by the individual and if 

 the fact is not established until after awards are made and 

 premiums paid, the Secretary shall be authorized to publish the 

 same in the press and withhold the endorsement of the Asso- 

 ciation from the party, it being the policy of this A.ssociation to 

 protect those who are faithfully seeking to improve seed corn. 



Second — All exhibits must be from the crop cf the year in 

 which the exhibit is made. 



Third — In all ten ear or trace classes the final award shall not 

 be made until, by chemical analysis, the sample ears have been 

 tested to determine their actual food value, that being the basis 

 of the award, all exhibits to be placed upon a 12 per cent crib 

 dry, water content. 



Fourth — Awards shall be based upon the size, uniformity, and 

 shape of the kernels, and length and regularity of rows, as well 

 as shape of cob, it not being the purpose to magnify the 

 cylindrical ear at the expense of more important factors. 



Fifth — In order to compete in any seed classes a sworn state- 

 ment must be submitted with the entry, giving character of soil, 

 crop grown in lyii, method of preparation in 1912, character 



