EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



351 



Detecting and Discarding "Weak Ears.: — 



Examine each square in order. If in any square, any of the kernels 

 have failed to germinate, discard the ear corresponding to the square. 

 If in any square all of the kernels have germinated, but one or more of 

 the young plants show a lack of vigor, discard the ear corresponding to 

 the square. In this way every ear having kernels of low vitality is 

 rejected. 



Fig. 16. — The young plants at the left are from tip kernels, those in the middle are from middle ker- 

 nels, and those on the right are from butt kernels, all from the same ear, and planted at 

 the same time. 



TIP AND BUTT KERNELS. 



Discard Moldy Kernels. — 



The tip kernels should always be removed back suflSciently far to be 

 sure that no nioldy kernels remain. These kernels, while the ear is 

 still in the husks, are liable to develop mold, and moldy kernels are 

 nearly always deficient in vitality. In practice it is common to remove 

 butt and tip kernels where the planting is to be done by a machine. 

 The opinion prevails that tip and butt kernels should be removed be- 

 cause of the effect their planting may have upon the size of the grain 

 of the future crop. In the majority of a considerable number of tests 

 made by the writer, the tip kernels were found to germinate more quickly 

 and the butt kernels more slowly than the middle kernels. In some 

 breeds this order appears to be changed. A careful study of all the 

 facts would indicate that the rational thing to do, were it not that 

 our corn planting machinery requires a uniform size of kernels for 

 efQcient work, would be to plant all the kernels of the ear tips, middies 

 and butts. See figs. 16 and 17. 



