30 FIELD AND LABORATORY STUDIES OF CROPS 



(2) Weigh and measure each ear, recording the weight in 

 ounces or grams and the length and circumference in inches 

 and fractions of an inch. 



(3) Record the number or rows of kernels and the num- 

 ber of kernels per row and the total number of kernels per 

 ear. 



(4) Select two representative ears from each sample, 

 shell, and determine the per cent of shelled corn. 



Are the large ears always the heaviest? Why is there 

 always an even number of rows? Can you see any relation 

 between the width of the grains and the number of rows on 

 the cob? How many ears of the average size will be required 

 to make a 70-pound bushel? From your shelling test cal- 

 culate how many ears are required to make a 56-pound bushel 

 of shelled corn. How many bushels of shelled corn in 100 

 bushels of ear corn which averages 75 per cent of shelled 

 corn? 85 per cent of shelled corn? 



Discussion : A great variation is found in the size, weight 

 and shape of the ears of different varieties of corn and also 

 in the individual ears of a particular variety. Ears with 

 medium-size cob and deep grains are much more valuable 

 for feeding purposes than those with shallow grains and large 

 cobs. 



