24 The Bulletin. 



the modern corn-planting machinery. Grains of irregular shape do not 

 plant well and are liable to lack uniformity in germinating power. 

 Uniformity of grain is a factor that can be largely controlled by per- 

 sistent selection of seed ears with uniform grains, but since the farmer 

 has, perhaps, less control over this than many other characteristics of 

 the ear, we have allowed but three points for uniformity of grains. 



Per Cent of Corn to Coh, together with prolificacy, determines largely 

 the acre yield of the variety, A high per cent of corn to cob requires 

 a deep grain and a relatively small cob. An effort should be made to 

 have the variety shell out at least 90 per cent of corn to cob. The 

 present standard is, of course, only 80 per cent, making 70 pounds of 

 ears shell out 56 pounds of grain when the corn is air dry. 



It is not easy to say just what proportion the depth or length of 

 grains should bear to the diameter of cob, but a number of measure- 

 ments of what seemed to be ideal ears revealed a proportion of one to 

 eight-tenths. That is, the diameter of the cob midway between butt 

 and tip measured eight-tenths as much as two of the grains laid end to 

 end. It is likely to be found that the best proportion of length of 

 grain to diameter of cob will run about one to three-fourths, the same 

 as the proportion of length to circumference of ear. This proportion 

 of depth of grain to diameter of cob bred into the leading prolific 

 varieties will greatly increase the acre yields over the State. 



The per cent of corn to cob is so very important and so completely 

 under the control of the corn breeder that twenty points are given to 

 this factor in the score-card. 



Viability is the power the individual grains have to germinate and 

 grow. An exhibit of corn that possesses good viability is sound, mature, 

 clean, and in good market condition. The corn judge lays considerable 

 stress on soundness and market condition, as these factors determine the 

 final disposition of the product. Ten points have been given this factor 

 in the score-card. 



Some corn shows exhibit a great many different kinds of corn and 

 fail to classify them. It is not unusual to find nonprolifics, prolifics, 

 white, red, yellow, blue, speckled, soft, flint, deep grained, and shallow 

 grained varieties, as well as pod corns and popcorns, all exhibited under 

 the same class. Here the judge is evidently put in a position where an 

 intelligent decision under the circumstances is impossible. 



Every distinct variety should be placed and judged in a class by itself, 

 that is, the prolific corns should be placed in a class to themselves; the 

 nonprolifics in a class to themselves, the yellow corns in a class to them- 

 selves; the popcorns in a class to themselves, etc., and premiums and 

 awards made accordingly. 



VARIETIES AND VARIETY TESTS. 



We can never hope to get any one best variety of corn for all our 

 different soil types and climatic conditions, but must expect each of the 



