STREXGTH OF GERMINATION 103 



rliaractcis firmly fixed, it is moro lik(^ly to l)rinj;- forth ^ixrd 

 com than is a sample that lacks this quality. 



129. Indications of strength of germination are maturity, 

 large germs, and dry, sound, bright-looking kernels. Such 

 indications are not always rehable guides and the only prac- 

 tical way of l^eing sure that an ear or a sample of corn 

 will germinate well is to test it. (Sections 74-77). 



Fijiurp 40. — Tips of ears: (1) A jiood tip, well-filled; (2) a long, taperiirg, ir- 

 regular tip; (8) a broad tip, not filled out; (4) an unfilled tip. Only No. 1 

 is desirable. 



130. The Value of Good Ears. The object of the corn 

 grower is to produce one good ear of corn on each stalk and 

 to have at least three strong stalks to each hill. On an acre 

 of corn planted 3 feet 8 inches apart each way, there are 

 3,240 hills. If one good 10-ounce ear of corn in produced on 

 each hill, a yield of 28.9 bushels will V)e obtained. This yield 

 is 2.9 bushels to the acre more than the average yield of corn 

 throughout the United States during the ten years from 

 1908 to 1917. A perfect stand with a 10-ounce ear produced 

 on each of three stalks in each hill would produce a yield of 

 86.7 bushels to the acre, which yield may be reasonably 

 excepted on good corn land in the corn belt from good 

 methods of culture. 



131. The Form of Ear. The form of ear and type of 

 kernel of course depend largely upon the variety of corn. 

 In a general way, the ears that have proved capable of pro- 

 ducing the best yields are somewhat uniform in circumference 

 from butt to tip; that is, they do not taper noticeably. Ears 



