202 CROP PRODUCTION 



of rows of kernels and the number of kernels in the row; 

 the weight and color of the grain and of the cob; and the 

 size and shape of the kernels." Many score cards have 

 been prepared for judging corn according to these char- 

 acteristics: one such card is printed on the previous 

 page. 



The corn planted for seed should come from such 

 selected ears. The kernels of each ear should be tested 

 for germination and growth before planting and all 

 which are inferior in this respect should be discarded. 

 A simple and interesting test may be easily made in the 

 schoolroom, in accordance with the directions already 

 given. 



Pupils who have many ears fo be tested at home may 

 well make such a testing box as is shown in the picture 

 on page 203. It is described by F. W. Howe in these 

 words : 



" The only materials needed are a shallow wooden tray, 

 a small handful of carpet tacks, a few yards of wrapping 

 twine, sand enough to fill the tray, and three or four 

 quarts of water. The tray (or several of them) can 

 easily be sawed from an empty soap or cracker box. 

 When finished, it should be about i| inches deep inside, 

 15 inches wide, and 23 inches long; but any of these 

 dimensions may be varied slightly. This tray is divided 

 into small squares by a checkerboard lacing of twine 

 across the top. It is convenient to have these squares 

 about li inches on a side, ten of them in a row across the 

 narrow way of the tray, and fifteen the other way. 



*'The picture shows the general appearance of such a 

 tray and the method of lacing the twine back and forth 

 across the tray and under the tacks. This lacing with 



