7e 



ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



of loose soil on top to check the evaporation of moisture. 



Grade Seed Com. — Practically all corn is now planted 

 with a machine, and unless the kernels are of uniform size 

 no machine can drop the same number of kernels in each 

 hill, and it is important to do so, 



As corn is shelled from the ear there is always more o 

 less irregularity in the kernels. This is especially true if 

 the tip and butt kernels are shelled with the rest. Even 

 if they are not used, there are some irregular kernels in the 





Figure 28. — (A) Corn as shelled from whole cob. (B) Corn after it hjM been 

 graded. Note uniformity of kernels. (C) Small and irregular kernel* poaaoved 

 by the grader. 



middle of the ear, owing to imperfect growth. Examine 

 an ear of corn and you will see the irregular kernels at the 

 tip and butt and a few in the middle. Irregular kernels 

 are easily removed from any sample of corn by running it 

 through any of the modem corn graders. 



Corn graders are fitted with screens with holes of certain 

 sizes and shapes. As the corn is run through, all the 

 si3EiaI! and irregular kernels are separated out, leavijaf ©nly 



