FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 117 



Mr.v C. A. Shamel, of the Orange Judd Farmer, suggests that a type 

 ear for Michigan for our dent corns should have a length of 9 inches, 

 a circumference of 9 inches, and should shell out 84 per cent. corn. 



In corn judging, a sample of corn^ — usually a ten-ear sample — is com- 

 pared with the type. Each of the above characteristics are studied, and 

 if the ten ears are perfect in all of the above points, and are also uni- 

 form in type and as compared with each other, the samples should score 

 100 points, but, if there are deficiencies, a certain number of points, or 

 parts of points, are marked off. For example, if the ears were Michi- 

 gan grown and we accept the standard suggested by Mr. Shamel, the 

 ten ears should be each nine inches long, and if just nine inches long, 

 should be credited with ten points. If they were not exactly nine inches 

 long, then the total number of inches of excess and deficiency of length 

 should be determined and one point thrown off for every such inch 

 of deficiency and excess. 



If the ten ears, on being shelled, weighed out 84 per cent, corn they 

 would receive fifteen points, but for every per cent, less than 84, one 

 point would be thrown off, so that if the per cent, of corn were 75, in- 

 stead of 84, the deficiency would be 9 per cent, and therefore nine 

 points must be thrown off and the sample would score only six points 

 instead of fifteen, and so on. 



It is thus seen that in this work the corn grower has something mathe- 

 matically definite to work to in the matter of type, but after this much 

 is accomplished, methods of culture must be studied and naturally such 

 a line must be taken up. Further, much progress is being made in 

 changing the chemical characteristics of corn. In some cases .the protein 

 content is being increased; in some the per cent, of oil is increased. 

 One breeder of corn is developing high protein in one variety and high 

 oil in another. The methods for this work must also be taken up by the 

 association. 



For years we have been giving careful attention, or at least it has been 

 possible to give careful attention, to the improving of our live stock, and 

 gi^eat things have been accomplished in that direction. We have not 

 appreciated that the laws underlying stock improvement are just as 

 fundamental and almost as easily operated in the improvement of our 

 field crops. In other states corn growers are organizing for this pur- 

 pose. In some respects the corn crop is perhaps more important to 

 Michigan than to other states. The time seems ripe for such an onward 

 movement on our part. 



