FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 



67 



FIG. 12— SHAPE OF KERNELS. 



No. 2 shows about the proper space to be looked for between the rows, 

 the two middle ones being a little too open for the upper half of the distance. 

 Should the rows fit more closely it would be a disadvantage as the corn 

 would require too long a time to dry out. An ear having very little space 

 between the rows at the crown almost invariably has a great deal of space 

 between the l^ernels next to the cob, through having narrow pointed kernels. 

 No. 1 shows more space'.between the rows than No. 2 and the kernels will 

 have less space between them next to the cob . The character of these kernels, 

 however, makes space on No. 1 more admissible than on ear 2, lor the reason 

 that the kernels are of a rougher type, are much longer and consequently re- 

 quire more space in order to dry out. The space between the rows at the butt 

 is, however, too great. Ear 3 shows very wide space and a broad, thick but 

 shallow kernel. Ears having such wide space are not necessarily lacking in 

 vitality. It does, however, indicate a running out such as is most fre- 

 quently seen in corn grown in the extreme north of the corn belt. As the 

 season is short the kernel must take the shallower form with open space in 

 order to mature. No. 2 illustrates a kernel of medium depth and about 

 proper space between the rows. It would be best adapted for the central 

 part of the corn belt, while No. 1, with its deep kernels and wider space 

 between the rows, would be suited for a longer season such as would be 

 found farther south. 



These are all good ears and the tendency would be in selecting seed to 

 keep all three of them. This is a mistake. In the first place these kernels 

 differ too much in size and shape, and if the ears were shelled the difference 

 would be still more striking. See Fig. 5. No planter can drop these ker- 

 ,nels properly if mixed, consequently we have a poor stand and low yield no 

 matter how rich the soil or how favorable the year may be. If it is neces- 

 sary to use ears of this kind, separate them into three or more classes and 

 use the proper planter plate for each. 



In the second place it is a mistake to plant these three types of ears to- 

 gether, because they will not shed their pollen nor mature at the same time. 

 For effects of this see Fig. 8. If you are so far north that only ear No. 3 



Fig. 13. 



