68 



A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



FIG. 9. AN IDEAL EAR 



one inch across, there will be 576 in 

 a tester a foot wide and four feet 

 long, inside measure. 



Made according to these direc- 

 tions, the tester provides a simple 

 means of keeping a record of every 

 ear tested. Cut a piece of card- 

 board into squares half an inch 

 across. Fasten one of these to the 

 butt of each ear of corn by using a 

 common pin. The pin will hold 

 the bit of cardboard, providing a 

 place for the number to correspond 

 with the square in which grains 

 from each ear are to be planted. 



With the tester in a place where 

 the sand can be properly moistened 

 with water, and where it can be 

 kept moist and also warm enough 

 to allow the corn to germinate at a 

 summer temperature, begin the 

 work by taking an ear to be tested 

 in square Al ; mark the tag pinned 

 on the butt of the ear (the pin 

 thrust deep into the pith) Al; 

 then, with a pocket knife care- 

 fully lift five kernels from differ- 

 ent rows in different parts of the 

 ear. 



