EXERCISE 35 



SCORING A TEN-EAR SAMPLE OF CORN 



Statement. When an individual is able to compare and judge ears of corn rapidly and accurately, 

 he has developed " corn judgment," a trait which can only be acquired by experience and study. 

 To a beginner a score card designating the principal points to be considered is very helpful. It is not 

 a rule ; it is only a device to aid in forming correct judgment. 



Object. To determine the relative merits of ears of corn from a physical examination. 



Materials. Ten selected ears of corn for each pupil; tape measure 12 inches long; a sharp 

 pocket knife ; a magnifying glass. 



Directions. 1. Score each ear of the ten selected, and record the score of each on the score card 

 which follows. After your score has been gone over by the instructor, make notes at the bottom of the 



score card showing where 

 errors were made, and why. 

 After all exhibits are scored, 

 examine carefully those re- 

 ceiving the highest score. 



2. Each pupil should 

 select the best single ear 

 from his ten-ear exhibit 

 and enter it in a single-ear 

 contest. After the best ear 

 in the entire lot is selected, 

 mount it and label it the 

 prize winner from the 

 standpoint of appearance. 

 In a home project exercise outlined later the prize winner will be chosen from the standpoint of per- 

 formance in an ear-row test. Selection by means of physical examination is very helpful and is the 

 only feasible plan of general seed selection, but the final test is the record of performance in the field. 

 3. Save for future use all the ears judged, being sure to keep them properly tagged so that their 

 history may be traced at any time. 



Questions. What points on the score card are given the most consideration ? Why ? What is the 

 required length for a standard ear of corn in your community? Why does the size of the ideal ear 

 vary in different regions ? If a kernel of corn produces a stalk containing one or two average-sized ears, 

 how many kernels are produced from the one planted ? How many ears of average size for your com- 

 munity are required to plant an acre ? How many acres of corn will a bushel of seed plant? At $1, $2, 

 $3, $5 a bushel respectively, what is the seed cost for an acre? If properly selected seed will produce 

 five bushels an acre more than ordinary seed how much more could the farmer afford to pay for it 

 rather than use ordinary seed ? How many hours could he afford to spend growing or selecting such 

 seed rather than plant the unselected sort ? 



References. Waters, H.J. Essentials of Agriculture, pp. 138-148, 211. Ginn and Company. Hunt, T. F. 

 The Cereals in America, pp. 170-171. Orange Judd Company. Myrick, Herbert. The Book of Corn, pp. 75- 

 87. Orange Judd Company. Duggar, J. F. Southern Field Crops, pp. ioi-m. The Macmillan Company. 

 Montgomery, E. G. The Corn Crops, pp. 253-259. The Macmillan Company. 



Fig. 43. A grand sweepstakes exhibit at the Indiana State Corn Show 



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