THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 



85 



C. —Shows good and bad forms of kernels. The pairs of kernels 1, 2, 11 and 12 show the 

 best forms in the order named, while Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the poorest forms in the 

 order named. Pair No. 1 are the best, since they are full and plump at the tips next to 

 the cob and have large germs. Both of these points are important as they indicate strong 

 vitality and feeding value. On the other hand, pairs Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are especially weak, 

 with low feeding value and small per cent of corn to cob. 



It will also be observed that these kernels are far from uniform in size and shape (com- 

 pare with No. 4, and Nos. 2 and 6) and hence no planter will drop an even number per 

 hill. (See table of tests. ) When we renlize that all of these kernels were taken from ears 

 that appeared to be good ears, when examined from the standpoint of the ear alone, we 

 can readily appreciate the importance of paying more attention to the study of the kernels 

 of corn in our seed ears. 



4 3 2 1 



P. —In selecting seed corn ears 2 and 3 should be discarded as no planter will drop a 



uniform number of these kernels per hill. 



Ears 1 and 4 have kernels of uniform size and shape, and when the butts and tips were 



shelled off the planter dropped three kernels to a hill 93 to 95 times out of every hundred 



tests while ear No. 3 tested 74-3's. 19-2's. 6-1's and 1-4's. 



In the above illustrations C and P we see a condition which often exists 

 in corn that has been selected for planting. Ear Number One shows rows 

 that are straight with kernels that are uniform in size, and if we set our 

 planter to drop any definite number of these kernels we can be sure the 

 rate of dropping will be regular. Ear Number Two, though it is well 

 filled with kernels and so far as feeding purposes are concerned would 

 be very satisfactory, yet when we consider the size and shape of the ker- 

 nels in relation to our planter we see the utter impossibility of getting 

 the corn at all regularly. 



