SEED INSPECTION 47 



Type and Variety Studies of Sweet Corn 



Conducted in Conjunction with the Department of Vegetable Gardening 



Prof. Grant B. Snyder 



The field trials of sweet com for 1933 included 280 lots consisting of 90 different 

 named sorts from 29 sources. The seed was purchased in all cases from the seed 

 firm or grower. In conducting the trials every effort was made to maintain as uni- 

 form cultural conditions as possible and to evaluate plant and ear characters on 

 a fair basis. 



Detailed records were taken of each lot as to plant, ear, and kernel characters 

 and season of maturity. Refractive indices were taken of kernels for 29 of the more 

 important sorts during their maturity periods. Kernel toughness was studied by 

 use of a pressure tester for 15 varieties during their maturity periods and under 

 varied conditions after harvesting. These records are available to anyone interested 

 by communication with the Department of Vegetable Gardening. 



In general, the sorts included were true in type for the variety designated by 

 the seedsman. The more standard varieties exhibited very little variation, while 

 the newer sorts such as Golden Gem, Spanish Gold, Top and King's Crossed Ban- 

 tam, showed some variation in plant height, maturity season, rows of kernels 

 per ear, and kernel size. These variations, however, were not sufficient to classify 

 the sort as being off-type or misnamed, except as noted below. 



Golden Gem, S. D. Woodruff & Sons: Lot resembled Spanish Gold. 

 Spanish Gold, S. D. Woodruff & Sons: Plant taller and later in maturity 



than typical for variety. 

 Golden Sunshine, Thomas W. Emerson Co.: Plant shorter than Sunshine, 



with ears similar to Golden Early Market. 

 Golden Sunrise, Thomas W. Emerson Co.: Resembled Golden vSunshine. 

 Pocahontas, J. J. Gregory & Son: Lot variable. 

 Stowell's Evergreen, Harris Seed Co.: Lot shorter and earlier in maturity 



than other strains of variety tested. 



While some variation in size of ear and number of rows of kernels per ear was 

 noted for the various sorts studied, very few deviated from a permissable tolerance. 

 In Golden Bantam, those strains having 10 to 14 rows per ear were largely listed 

 as Improved Golden Bantam. This distinction from the standard Golden Bantam, 

 which has S rows per ear, is quite desirable. It was also noted that the hj^brid sorts, 

 as Top Crossed Bantam, etc., were somewhat more resistant to Stewart's Disease 

 than the standard varieties. 



Type and Variety Tests of Legumes 

 Conducted in Conjunction with the Department of Agronomy 



Continuing the project of trueness to type and variety of legumes, which the 

 Department of Agronomy has conducted for several seasons, 14 samples of Alfalfa, 

 29 samples of Red Clover, and 3 samples 'of Sweet Clover were tested. All samples 

 were found true to type for the variety labeled by the vendor of the seed. 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance 

 2500-3-'34. No. 821 



