248 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



which I think should guide us. The kernel should be more or 

 less wedge shape, with the type of a triangle. It should be so 

 uniform that the kernels will touch all the way down. It 

 should be sufficiently wide at the top, but not too wide, and then 

 taper down. Sometimes we find them too wide and rounded, 

 which means that we have a space between the kernels. We 

 cannot have depth and abnormal width. 



The germ is the last thing we will consider and perhaps one 

 of the most important things in the study of the conformation 

 of the kernel. I think the germ should come up pretty well 

 toward the top of the kernel, and it should be fairly wide. It 

 should not spread all over the kernel, and it should not be 

 narrow. It should be bright and free from wrinkles. A 

 wrinkle shows a chance of immaturity. In summing up I 

 would say : for general appearance, the first glimpse we get 

 of the sample, the color of it, the cheerfulness of it, and also 

 the regularity of length and regularity of size. Then comes 

 the maturity which is one of the important points in judging 

 corn. I put great dependence upon maturity, because that is 

 the vital point for the seed corn grower. If we are to grow 

 our own seed corn, we must pay attention to maturity. Then 

 comes the ear conformation, which takes up the regularity of 

 development, the covering of the tip and butt. What we should 

 work for in regard to the tip is to have it regularly rounded 

 over, but we should not place too much dependence on this. 

 I would rather have a little bareness of tip and well rounded 

 kernels than a well filled tip and bare kernels. The kernels 

 should be wedge shape so they will fit in together and the germ 

 of good size. 



Dr. TwitchelIv — In looking over the first prize ten ears of 

 corn, I find there are a great many irregular kernels. The ears 

 are of good length but there are so many irregular kernels as 

 compared with the second prize lot that the question has been 

 raised as to why it was placed first. 



Prof. Bell— I would ask you to take up the ears in the two 

 lots and twist them for maturity. The ears in the lot which 

 secured the first prize are exceptionally well matured. They 

 are sound and solid. I will admit that the second lot has a 

 more regular form of kernels, but it is not as mature, and I 

 place much dependence on maturity. They both look vigorous 

 and I think both are excellent; but on account of its maturity 

 I believe the first lot will come out best in the spring. 



