LABORATORY AND FIELD EXERCISES 121 



is to eliminate all the poorer samples from the class which 

 is under consideration. As a rule, a large number of samples 

 are easily ruled out, for there may be mixed kernels, soft 

 ears, poor ears, or other disqualifying factors which are 

 easily noticed. The second step is to get the remaining good 

 samples together, where they may be easily compared. The 

 third step is to place at one end of the exhibit table or bench 

 the sample that seems best; then place the other samples as 

 their merit seems to warrant. When one feels that they are 

 placed in the proper order, or nearly so, a few kernels should 

 be removed from each ear in each sample and placed at the 

 end of the ear from which they were taken. It is easy then 

 to compare the kernels to see whether or not they are good 

 in shape, true to type, and uniform. Comparison of kernels 

 is always necessary when the competition is close. 



LABORATORY AND FIELD EXERCISES 



1. Select from a large number of ears in the field, in the crib, or in 

 the seed-house, 10 ears of corn as nearly alike as possible in the follow- 

 ing respects: Cobs the same length, size, color and shape; tips and butts 

 well filled; rows of .kernels straight; the same number of rows on each 

 cob; kernels of the same depth, shape and color, with uniformly large 

 germs, and broad, well-filled tips. Note the large number of ears neces- 

 sary to obtain the ten-ear sample, also the great tendency to vary. 



2. Test 100 ears for germination by the individual ear method as 

 described in this chapter. Make a note of the materials and time used 

 to make the tester, put the 100 ears to test, and read the results. How 

 much more corn must one obtain at 80 cents per bushel to pay for the 

 time and materials used in making the test? Do you think it pays to 

 test corn? How many acres will 100 ears of corn plant in check rows 

 3 feet 8 inches apart each way, and 3 kernels dropped per hill? 



3. Make a seed-corn tree as described in this chapter. Note cost 

 of materials and time required. How much did it cost you? How 

 many ears of corn will a tree 6 feet high and with 8 rows of nails hold? 

 How many such seed-corn trees would you need to store enough seed 

 corn for your own use? Hang up some seed corn by the double string. 



4. When the corn is ripe in your neighborhood, go into a field, 

 select an average row, and count the number of stalks in 100 hills that 

 have produced ears. (Count as hills each place where there should 



