88 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



PER CENT OF CORN TO EAR (lo). 



The per cent of corn to ear should not be under 84. Recent ex- 

 periments seem to indicate, that a higii per cent of corn to ear does not 

 necessarily mean a high yield of shelled corn per acre ; consequently too 

 much emphasis should not be laid on the property of individual ears to 

 shell a high per cent of corn. What is wanted is a large yield of shelled 

 corn per acre, and indications point toward the possibility of this being 

 more easily secured with cobs of fair size than with smaller cobs. The 

 per cent of corn to ear is best determined by selling every other ear of 

 an exhibit and weighing, or it may be done with a fair degree of accur- 

 acy by shelling two representative ears. Ordinarily, where the corn is to 

 be preserved, this per cent can be determined with sufficient accuracy by 

 noting the depth of kernel and the weight of ear in the hand. Cut not 

 to exceed one point for each ear markedly deficient in this respect, or 

 where the ears are shelled and weighed, cut i 1-2 points for each per 

 cent which the sample averages below 85. 



THE MOST PROFITABLE TYPES OF CORN FOR MISSOURI 



FARMERS. 



(Ool. G. W. Waters, Canton, Mo.> 



The average Missouri farmer is vastly more interested in a type of 

 corn that will yield largely than in one that will score high on the show 

 tables. He has not studied to discriminate as to the. lower feeding 

 values of different corns, as indicated in the varying protein, oil or 

 starch content, but looks only to the bushels of sound shelled corn that 

 any given variety will produce. This is his measure of value, his stand- 

 ard of excellence. And in this he is right. Seek first a maximum 

 yielding corn, and all the other subsidiary requirements may in time be 

 added by judicious breeding. 



The question then is, what style, size, shape of ear, sort of stalk 

 and blades, what period of maturity and what general characteristics 

 are identical with the best average yielding corn ? T have watched the 

 results in the growth of a great number of types of corn, in length of 

 ear all the way from the "Long John," twelve to fourteen inches long, 

 to the thick, short mastodon in size, from the Giant Normandy, Boon^? 

 County White, and other extra large sorts to the Cartner, and other 

 smaller varieties. As to size of grain, I have carefully observed from 

 the large broad grain of the Hickory King to Shoepeg ; as to number 

 of rows to the ear from the eight-rowed to 30 or even 32 rows ; 

 and as to one car to the stalk, or many ears, as is the so-called "Pro- 



