EXERCISE 20 

 THE EAR OF CORN 



Object. To make a study in detail of an ear of corn. 



Explanation. Ears of corn vary in size, shape, number 

 of rows, number of kernels per ear, and in their general 

 appearance. This variation occurs in different types of 

 corn, in different varieties of corn, and in different ears of 

 corn of the same variety. 



Equipment. 1. Two ten-ear samples of corn of different 

 varieties. 



2. A foot rule. 



3. A yard tape line. 



4. A torsion balance, weighing to half a gram. 

 Directions. Number the ears from one to ten. Use 



the blank outline below and fill in the following data for 

 the two samples of corn. Record the length and circum- 

 ference of each ear in inches. Record the weight of each 

 ear in grams. Record the number of rows per ear, the 

 number of kernels per row, and the number of kernels for 

 each ear. Record the measurements for each individual 

 ear and the average for the sample. 



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