948 Rural School Leaflet 



4. Shape of kernels. — The shape of the kernels is very important. They 

 should broaden gradually from tip to crown, with edges straight so that 

 they will touch the full length, and should be wedge-shaped without 

 coming to a point. Kernels of this shape will fit close together and thus 

 insure the highest possible yield of grain that can grow on the cob. If the 

 kernels have this wedge shape, no wide spaces will be found between the 

 rows. Such spaces are always objectionable. 



5. Proportion between corn and cob. — There should be a large proportion 

 of grain as compared with the amount of cob. This will be the case with 

 ears having deep kernels. A large ear does not necessarily indicate a 

 heavy yield of grain, and it is objectionable in that the cob, being large, 

 contains a considerable amount of moisture which, drying out slowly, 

 injures the grain for seed purposes. 



6. Color of grain and cob. — Good corn should be free from admixture. 

 White corn should have white cobs and yellow corn should have red cobs. 



7. Trueness to type or race characteristics. — The ears selected for an ex- 

 hibit or for breeding purposes should be uniform in size, shape, color, in- 

 dentation, and size of kernel. They should also be true to the name of 

 the variety. 



From each school in which Corn Day is celebrated this year we should 

 like to receive the very best single ear of corn shown in that school at the 

 exhibit. It may be either flint or dent corn and need not necessarily be the 

 largest ear, but it should be the most perfect ear according to the printed 

 ideal above. Label this ear carefully, giving the number of the school 

 district, name of the township, name of the county, and the teacher's 

 name; also the variety of corn if it is known. Wrap carefully the single 

 ear of corn, making a secure package, and send it by mail to Edward M. 

 Tuttlc, College of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York. If no other writing 

 except the label is put in the package it can be sent at fourth-class rates, 

 one cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce. We shall make a note 

 that your school has celebrated Corn Day and shall keep the ear of corn 

 for our Farmers' Week exhibit in February, at which time we shall give 

 one prize for the most perfect ear of dent corn and one for the most per- 

 fect ear of flint corn that we have received. Then we shall probably 

 have the two most perfect ears of corn in the State. 



Bear in mind that we want only one ear, the very best one, from each 

 school. Send it as soon after Corn Day as convenient and we will take 

 care of it. Every school should be represented. In this way our boys 

 and girls will be taking part in Farmers' Week. 



