CULTIVATED CROPS 81 



sequently any space between the kernels is to be avoided. 

 These spaces are caused by rounded kernels, and are more 

 common and larger in flint than in dent varieties. 



Selecting. — It is a comparatively small task to go through 

 the field with a sack and select the desired ears, or when the 

 corn is husked from the stai^ding stalks the ears may be 

 selected as the husking is being done and the seed ears 

 thrown into a sack or small box on the side of the wagon. 

 This manner is preferable to selecting the best ears from 

 the load or crib after it is husked, as the stalks may be 

 considered in the selection. 



Judging. — For judging seed corn in schools and at fairs, 

 a score card is used. The following one, adopted bj' the 

 Iowa Corn Growers' Association, is characteristic. The 

 method of scoring varies somewhat in the different states. 



I. General Appearance ... 25 



' 1. Size and shape of ear. ... 10 



2. Filling of butts and tips.. 5 



3. Straightness of rows 5 



4. Uniformity of kernels.. . . 5 



II. Productiveness 60 



III. Breed Type 15 



1. Size and shape of ear. ... 5 



2. Size, shape, and dent of 

 kernel 5 



3. Color of grain 2 



4. Color of cob 2 



5. Arrangement of rows. ... 1 



Total 100 



1. Maturity 25 



2. Vitality 25 



3. Shelling percentage 10 



Questions: 



1. When should seed corn be selected, and why? 



2. What are some of the advantages of selecting seed corn in 

 the field from the standing stalk over selecting from the load or crib? 



3. For what reasons would you select ears that are sound, with 

 kernels tight on the cob? 



Arithmetic: 



1. A bushel of seed corn is worth $3.00 and will plant six acres. 

 What is the cost of seed per acre? 



2. A fair sized ear of corn will weigh about 10 ozs. What part of 

 a pound does it weigh? How many such ears of corn in a bushel? (A 

 bushel of ear corn weighs 72 lbs.) 



3. A boy selects 200 10-oz. ears of seed corn in one day. How 

 many bushels does he save? How much is it worth at $3.00 per bushel? 



STORING SEED CORN 



T6 Keep Germ Uninjured. — We have learned (page 57) 

 that every kernel of corn contains an embyro or germ, which 

 is a very small, live corn plant. If the kernel is to be of 

 any value as seed, this germ must be kept alive and strong. 



