Corn Groivers' Association. 329 



WEIGHT OF EAR. 



Weight of ear may mean much or little, depending upon 

 whether environment or heredity are the controlling factors in its 

 production. If stand of plants and conditions of fertility are un- 

 even, and seed ears are selected without regard to such conditions, 

 weight of ear is not especially significant. If, however, conditions 

 are quite uniform, weight of ear is one of the best indications of 

 productiveness one has. It should, of course, never be considered 

 apart from maturity. 



Referring to our own studies of the relation of weight of seed 

 ear to yield, we find, upon dividing all of the seed ears which we 

 have tested in our ear-row work up to this year into two classes, 

 viz. : medium heavy and medium light, a gain in yield of 5.9 bushels 

 per acre for the heavier ears, even though the difference of weight 

 was on the average but 2.06 ounces per ear. 



Our ear-row tests of this year (1907) were composed largely 

 of ears of very different hereditary value, owing in part to pedi- 

 gree breeding work. This factor would, of course, so disturb mat- 

 ters that comparisons regarding the bearing of weight upon yield 

 would have no value. 



It should be stated that all comparisons as to weight of ear 

 are made only after seed corn is thoroughly air dry. 



LENGTH OF EAR. 



Of the two factors which certainly have much to do with 

 weight of ear — length and circumference — our tests thus far have 

 shown that length is of much greater significance than circum- 

 ference. Ears a little above average length for a variety and 

 locality have yielded more bushels of corn per acre than ears falling 

 below average length, while ears of large circumference have 

 proved lower yielders than those of medium circumference, show- 

 ing that it is impossible to make up any shortage in weight due 

 to length by increased circumference. 



SHAPE OF KERNEL. 



A correct shape of kernel, which is commonly described as 

 broadening gradually from a not too pointed tip to crown, with 

 edges comparatively straight, and of uniform thickness, is, of 

 course, associated with good weight of ear and high yield per acre. 

 I do not discover that extreme length of kernel is essential to 



