EXERCISES 21, 22, 23 

 CORN JUDGING 



Object. To acquire skill and obtain practice in select- 

 ing seed ears of corn. 



Explanation. Corn judging is estimating the value of 

 ears of corn for seed. It requires a knowledge of different 

 parts of the ear of corn and an appreciation of quality in 

 corn characters. Ears of corn are different in size, shape, 

 and appearance. A good corn judge should be able to select 

 those ears that are best suited for planting. The score card 

 is used to designate the parts of an ear of corn and the relative 

 value of these parts. 



A good ear of corn should be nearly cylindrical, approx- 

 imately 10 to 11 inches hi length, and 7 to 1\ inches in 

 circumference. The kernels and cob should each be of 

 a uniform color. The ear should be sound, the kernels 

 should be firm on the cob, and the butt and tip should be 

 covered with well-shaped kernels. There should be from six- 

 teen to twenty rows of corn on the ear, and the kernels should 

 be deep and well shaped, with little space between the rows. 

 The germ should be large and bright, and the ear should be 

 well matured. 



Different varieties of corn may differ in their standard 

 of perfection. Early maturing varieties are usually smaller 



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