24G 



AGRICULTURE. 



in any field or garden crop which are especially 

 good representatives of the existing type. 



I. Selection of Seeds. 



The very first thing to be done is to select 

 the most perfectly developed seeds from those 

 particular plants which most nearly conform to 

 the standard of perfection for that type. 



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Agricultural Eiperimcut Station, Ames, Iowa. 



FIG. 79. — VARIATION IN GRAINS OF CORN. 



No. I is best since the grains are full and plump at the tips next the cob, and 

 have large germs indicating strong vitality and feeding value. Nos. 2, 11, and 

 12 are the next best forms in order. Nos. 5, 6, and 7 are weak, with low feeding 

 value and small percentage of corn to cob. Since the grains ?ire tioi uniform 

 in size, the planter will not drop the same number in each hill. These grains 

 were taken from ears that appeared to be good when examined from the 

 standpoint of the ear, and shows the importance of paying more attention to 

 the selection of grain from the seed ears of corn. 



Exercise lo.—A Study in Corn Judging. — [a) Procure 

 a half-bushel of mixed or unimproved corn and ten or 

 twelve ears of an improved variety of corn. 



{b) Judge and score the improved or standard variety 

 of corn according to the points and directions on the 

 score card. 



(^) Judge and score the mixed corn. 



((/) Select ten of the best ears of the mixed or unim- 



