196 CROP PRODUCTION 



the base and tip and discard them. This is the process 

 of nubbing the ear. 



Select five kernels from each ear, one from near each 

 end and three from the intermediate spaces, each kernel 

 coming from a different row, so that all sides of the ear 

 will be represented. 



Let each pupil fill a small paper flower pot with clean 

 dry sand to within an inch of the top. Lay the five 

 kernels on top of the sand, distributing them over the 

 space. Cover them one-half inch deep with more sand. 

 Insert a wooden or pasteboard label in each pot, printing 

 the number of the ear, the name of the pupil, and the 

 date on the label. 



These pots are now to be watered and placed in a sunny 

 window where they will all have the same conditions of 

 light and heat. A shallow pan or zinc tray to hold them 

 is desirable, but not necessary. In a few days the seeds 

 will germinate; they should be kept growing until the 

 Uttle plants are two or three inches high. Then a 

 careful examination and record should be made and all 

 ears which show even one poor kernel out of the five 

 should be discarded for seed purposes. The seedlings 

 will make excellent objects for study and drawing. 



Instead of paper flower pots ordinary flower pots or 

 shallow boxes of almost any kind may be used, but the 

 pots are simpler and easier to handle. They are not 

 seriously injured by being used for seed testing. 



Fungous Diseases 



Have you ever seen an ear of corn affected by com 

 smut? How did it look? 



Is smut more abundant on sweet corn than on field 



