EXERCISE 34 



A DETAILED STUDY OF THE CORN EAR 



Object. To estimate the points of superiority in ears of corn and 

 to determine the character of the qualities essential to good seed corn. 



Materials. Three ears of corn for each student in 

 the class, with a few extra ears for further comparison. 

 Textbook statements of what constitutes a good ear. 



Directions. In each vertical column in the follow- 

 ing outline enter the statements which express your 

 judgment of the character of each of the qualities 

 listed for an ear of corn. Repeat this for two other 

 ears ; then compare your statements and compare the 

 ears to see if you have described them accurately. 



Classify the shape of ears as cylindrical, tapering, 

 or irregular. Length of ears should include extreme 

 length, considering projecting cob as a part of the 

 ear. The circumference should be taken at one third 

 the distance from the butt to the tip. Color of kernels 

 should show the number of kernels not of the same 

 color as the ear. Indentation should be classed as 

 broad, deep, or chaffy. The number of rows depends 

 upon the type and variety of corn. The spacing of the kernels should be such 



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Fig. 41. Deep and shallow kernels 

 At left, deep; at right, shallow 



Fig. 39. Grand sweep- 

 stakes. Single ear at 

 the Iowa State Corn 

 Show 



as to allow a maximum amount of corn; that is, the kernels should fit tightly 

 one against another. Designate the spacing at the crown and at the cob as 

 close or loose. Classify the pairing of the rows as distinct or indefinite ; classify tips as blunt or taper- 

 ing; classify butts as expanded, 

 contracted, or cylindrical; classify 

 shanks as large, medium, and small. 



Questions. What is the proper 

 length for an ear of dent corn in 

 your community? What has hap- 

 pened when ears of corn display 

 more than one color? Describe the 

 appearance of a chaffy kernel of 

 corn. In what dimension is a chaffy 

 kernel usually deficient ? If kernels 

 are narrow, what about the spacing 

 at the crown? If narrow, what 

 about spacing at the cob? If 

 narrow, how is size of the germ 

 affected ? 



References. Waters, H. J. Essen- 

 tials of Agriculture, pp. 142-147. 

 Ginn and Company. Duggar, J. F. Southern Field Crops, pp. 

 101-11 1. The Macmillan Company. Myrick, Herbert. The 

 Book of Corn, pp. 75-87. Orange Judd Company. 



[68] 



Fig. 40. Wide and narrow 

 spacing on the cob 



Fig. 42. Undesirable types of ears 



At the left, grains spaced too wide ; in the middle, 

 ear too slender ; at the right, ear too short and thick 



