146 



Bulletin 251. 



The best corn variety for any section is that sort which ripens sufficiently 

 early to mature its crops before freezes are liable to occur, and gives 

 the best yield of good grain. A variety, however, should be late enough 

 to utilize the entire growing season available in the locality. Every 

 variety of corn which the writer has examined shows considerable 

 variability in the season of the different individuals and it is clearly 

 possible to shorten or lengthen the season of any given variety. The 



stalk should be vigorous. 

 ])roductive ai:d leafy. If 

 early enough for Xew York 

 conditions it is not likely 

 to be too high as some- 

 times occurs farther south. 

 Ordinari!)- a stalk which 

 does not produce suckers 

 is considered the most de- 

 sirable. It is also import- 

 ant that healthy stalks free 

 from smut or rust, either 

 on leaves, ears, or tassels 

 should be selected. A good 

 ear of corn in general should 

 be cylindrical in shape and 

 of about the same diameter 

 from base to tip (Fig. 135). 

 It is very easy to find ears 

 too long and slender to 

 give the best results. The 

 car giving die largest weight 

 of shelled corn of good 

 (|ualily and grade is in gen- 

 eral the best ear. The ears 

 which give diis ordinarily have deep kernels set on a medium sized cob 

 and are generally well filled at the tip and butt (I'igs. 136 and 137). 

 Length ni kernel is one r.f the most important characters, as almost 

 always, if not invariably, high yielding varieties have long kernel;. The 

 best f( rm of kernel is wedge-shaped with straight sides and edges. This 

 allows them to occupy all the space on the cob and form a solid heavy 

 ear ( Figs. 138 and 139). They should not be chaffy nor have prolonged 

 chaffy caps. 



It has been shown by the experiments of Dr. Hopkins and his 

 associates in the Illinois Fxperimcnt Station tliat it is possible to in- 

 crease the nitrogen, oil, or starch content of corn by careful selec- 



Fif.. i;ifK— Kernels short and undesirable on 

 left-hand ear; kernels long, and 7cell-shaped 

 on right-hand ear. Pride of North corn. 



