CORlSr growers' ASSOCIATIOlSr. 611 



CIRCUMFERENCE. 



The circumference will vary with the variety. It should be measured 

 at about one-third the distance from butt to tip of ear. In ordinary corn 

 7.5 inches to 8 inches is the circumference proportional to the ordinary 

 leugtli of ear. 



PER CENT. CORN. 



The corn grower produces the corn for the actual amount of shelled 

 corn produced. With the rough, deep Isernel type with a large number of 

 rows of kernels on the ear, all available space being talien up with corn, 

 the per cent, is greatest. Hence such corn is the most profitable to grow. 

 To find per cent., weigh the ear, shell the corn and weigh the shelled corn. 

 Divide the weight of the shelled corn by the total weight of the ear, 

 and the result will be the per cent, of shelled corn. This per cent, will 

 vary with the variety, but in general it is about 88 per cent. A large 

 enough cob to support the rows of corn is needed, and this per cent, of 

 corn represents about the proportion which will give the best results. 



SELECTION FOR QUALITY. 



The composition of the corn kernel is of great importance to the feeder, 

 stockmen and glucose factories. If the per cent, of protein can be 

 increased by breeding, the corn becomes the more valuable feed for live 

 stock. It is brought nearer a balanced ration, in other words, and is 

 of great importance to stockmen. The composition of the kernel can be 

 varied by breeding through selection of seed, as proved by experiments 

 of the Illinois Station, since 1896. The variation in the crop is shown by 

 the following table quoted from the work of the station. The table further 

 shows that the proportion of oil may be increased at the will of the 

 breeder. This will be of tremendous importance to the glucose factories, 

 where the corn oil is extracted on a commercial scale. Following is the 

 table: 



TABLE SHOWING INCREASE PROTEIN IN CORN BREEDING EXPERIMENT. 



Protein in Seed. Protein in Crop. 



1896 



1897 12.54 10.92 



1898 12.49 : 11.10 



1899 13.06 11.05 



1900. 13.74 11.46 



1901 14.77 12.82 



