CORN GROWERS^ ASSOCIATION. 8l 



must take into consideration the climatic and soil conditions under which 

 that corn was grown. 



Dr. Huston — What do you think of the 14-inch ears shown in the 

 Missouri exhibit? Is there any object in producing that particular type 

 of corn? 



Dr. Tucker — I do not know. They are usually so slender, the cob 

 and the ears equally small. A cylinder like that has less corn on it 

 than a thick one. I go by weight of grain, as we judge the race horse 

 by the speed and the dairy cow by her butter performance, we measure 

 the corn by its productiveness. 



Mr. Mumford. — How important is it that an ear should be cylin- 

 drical? What facts have we to prove that a cylindrical ear is better 

 than a deeper ear? 



Dr. Tucker — The greatest point is the uniformity of the kernel. As 

 an ear tapers, the kernels will grow smaller or be irregular. 



Mr. Unless the cob tapers relatively. 



Dr. Tucker — Even then there will be irregularity if the rows drop 

 out and that means a possibility of not getting a uniform stand in drop- 

 ping with the planter. So far as actual yield is concerned, I do not 

 know that there is much difference. I do not know why there is not 

 the same chance of the cob tapering as the ear does. 



Mr. Gabbert — They are getting graders to grade the seed, it would 

 be better if a man buy seed corn that has been run through the grader. 

 Dr. Huston — Don't you think it advisable to always buy seed corn 

 on the ear? 



Dr. Tucker — Yes. 

 Mr. Boles— Why? 



Dr. Tucker — Because one can see the size of the ear he is getting. 

 The shape does not make so much difference. You can get just as 

 good looking grains from any of the low grade ears where the ear is too 

 short or not big enough. But if the farmer buys his seed corn in the ear 

 he sees what he is getting and the probabilities are that he will get better 

 ears. If he buys the shelled corn he would not know the difference, the 

 kernels of the small ear look as well as the kernels of the big one. 



Mr. Carroll — When will Missouri be able to get over that sneer 

 about the score card? 



Dr. Tucker — When all our farmers breed ears that will produce 156 

 bushels to the acre. Of course the score card will have to be used 

 or at least those points which the score card brings out will have to 

 be studied in improving corn because there is, of course, undoubtedly 

 some relation. 



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