184 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 Makch, 1918. 



be found certain ear cliaracters which are in some way related to yield 

 for a definite variety when grown in a particular climate on a certain 

 class of soil. It is well known that a variety of maize in acclimatizing 

 itself to a given district, or adapting itself to a certain soil, tends to 

 change to a definite type of improved yielding capacity ; and it is hoped 

 that the records of a few years, obtained from the descriptions of the ears 

 used in these tests, will be useful in establishing some correlations 

 between these ear characters and yield. Already some of these 

 characters give promise of being associated with yield, while others have 

 apparently no relation to it ; but it will be necessary to have the results 

 of several years before any definite conclusions can be drawn. 



A few explanatory notes may be found useful to those who wish to 

 use this form, and it is recommended for the use of teachers of agricul- 

 ture in country schools who are desirous of instructing the boys in natiire 

 study with maize. 



The registered nmnher is useful for the purpose of keeping the ears 

 catalogued for comparison; and the pedigree number is the registered 

 number of the mother ear of the preceding year, which it is possible to 

 obtain if the ear-row system of planting is adopted. 



The weight of the ear before shelling may be obtained to the nearest 

 i oz. on an ordinary spring letter-balance. The circumference of the ear 

 is to be measured at one-third of the distance from the butt of the ear. 



Smooth indentation means complete absence of crinkling or creasing 

 of the dent. A crinkled dent is one which has slightly raised folds of 

 hull or skin running across the indentation. A creased dent has the 

 edges of the indentation somewhat rough and inclined to be drawn 

 together, giving the crown of the grain a rough feeling. 



A pinched dent has the opposite edges of the dent drawn together, and 

 is very rough to the feel. The dent is beaked when the upper edge is 

 drawn out longer than the other. 



The rows are paired when a larger furrow occurs between the double 

 rows of grain on the ear. 



A regular tip has the grain running in straight rows right up to the 

 tip. 



The hiisJc protection is good or poor according to the absence of pre- 

 sence of weather discoloration or insect injury. 



The roiLnding of the hutt is indicated by the depth of the depression 

 in the butt of the ear, and the filling of grain around this depression 

 where the shank has been attached. 



The shanJc is said to be large when the diameter of its " scar " of 

 attachment to the cob is s inch, or over; medium, when about ^ inch; and 

 small, when t inch, or less. 



The grain is thick when ten grains on the ear measure Ij inches, or 

 more ; medium, from 1^ to If inches ; and thiii, less than 1^ inches. 



The breadth of the grain is best taken on the cob before shelling. It 

 is the greatest breadth of the grain about one-third of the distance 

 from the butt of the ear. It should be taken to the nearest l-16th inch. 



