SELECTING BEST EARS FOR SEED 



97 



grow quickly in the spring providing the germ has not been 

 injured by hard freezing weather. 



In selecting seed corn from the field, choose only those 

 ears showing the same degree of maturity. Select all early 

 or all medium ears, depending on your requirements. The 

 earliest maturing ears from a field will average smaller in 

 size than ears of medium maturity. We believe that most 

 of the corn grown in the corn belt matures too late to 

 produce the greatest number of bushels of sound corn. (All 

 elevators, at present, grade corn on the basis of the moisture 



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VAEIATION IN SIZE OF KEENELS 



Since it is impossible to so adjust the planter as to drop these different sized 



kernels with uniformity, all ears like the four on the left should be 



discarded. Ear 1 js uniform, but the kernels are too small. 



Ears 5 and 6 have uniform kernels of the proper size. 



it contains.) On the other hand, the period of maturity 

 cannot be shortened to any great extent without reducing 

 the average weight of the ears. In view of these two facts, 

 we are firmly convinced that the best corn for general pur- 

 poses is that which will utilize practically the entire growing 

 season, and mature safely before it is damaged by freezing. 

 Maturity is determined by the dryness of the stalk leaves 

 and by the firmness of the ears and grain. 



