CORN CULTURE 29 



its different qualities, and then sum these markings all 

 together for the final "standing" or value of the ear. 



This method of judging corn is much more accurate 

 and scientific than estimating the value of an ear in an off- 

 hand way. It is the method used by most of the corn 

 experts. 



All ears to be judged as if for seed. No matter for 

 what purpose corn is to be used, it is always best to judge 

 the ears as if they were intended for seed. This is because 

 the ear that is best for seed is also best for every other pur- 

 pose. The ear which would show best in an agricultural 

 exhibit, the one which would be best for yield, or feeding, 

 or any other use is the one which grades highest as a seed 

 ear. 



Preparing the samples for judging. To supply corn 

 for judging with the score-card, each pupil will bring from 

 home the best ten ears of corn he can find either in the 

 field or the crib. There should be altogether as many as from 

 five to ten sets of ten ears each. Each ear must be labeled 

 or numbered so as to show ( 1 ) what set it belongs to, and 

 (2) its number in the set For this purpose prepare pieces 

 of tough cardboard one-half inch square. For the first set 

 of ten, label the ears Al, A2, A3 and so on. For the next 

 set, label the ears Bl, B2, B3, etc. Do this way for each 

 of the different sets, so that any ear can be placed in the 

 set where it belongs. The labels can be tied to the ears, 

 or can be attached to the butts by pushing a small nail 

 through the card and into the butt of the ear. The sets 

 can now be placed together on a table without danger of get- 

 ting them mixed. 



The four qualities on which the ear is judged. The 

 score-card is arranged to judge the corn on four different 

 qualities, each quality, if perfect, being counted as twenty- 



