466 FARM AND SCHOOL PROBLEMS. 



In selecting seed corn or in preparing an exhibit, there are 

 a few very important principles that should be kept in mind ; 

 trueness to type ; uniformity of kernel ; rows should be as nearly 

 straight as possible ; size, shape and length of ears as nearly equal 

 as possible ; tips and butts well filled ; free from mixture ; no 

 grains missing; color uniform. 



Study the score card. 



Determine the proportion between weight of grains and 

 weight of cob. 



The weight of the grain should be from 85 to 90% of the 

 weight of the ear. 



The selected seed ears should be kept in a dry, cool place 

 where the temperature is above the freezing point. 



Corn dryers can be made from pieces of timber as follows : 



A piece of timber one or two inches square at ends ; of a 

 convenient length for fifty ears; arranging a row of ears on each 

 of the four sides. 



Use finishing nails or bore holes and use wooden pegs 

 placing them at a slant of 45 degrees. Impale the ear on the 

 nails or wooden pegs. 



Number each ear, placing number up on surface of dryer 

 just above the peg holding the ear. Suspend this dryer by a wire 

 fastened to rafters or ceiling of room where corn is to be kept; 

 in this way it may be kept out of reach of rats and mice. 



Construct a seed tester for use next Spring. 



Select six grains from different parts of each ear. 



Determine the value of each ear for seed and discard all 

 poor ears. 



NOTE. The champion ear of corn, which won the $1,000 trophy at 

 the National Corn Show held in Columbus in 1910, was ten inches Ion-?, 

 seven and one-half inches in circumference, had twenty rows of kernels, 

 six to the inch in a row, five-eighths of an inch deep, five-sixteenths of an 

 inch in width ; it was a yellow dent. 



Urge the boys to enter the Corn Growing Contest each year. 

 Begin the work now. 

 Assist them to select the seed. 



If they do not enter the State Contest, have them get per- 

 mission to plant at least one acre in one of the corn fields on the 



