134 



AGRICULTURE 



Circumference of ear. The measure around an ear is 

 taken with a tape-line a: a. point one third the distance from 

 the larger end. The usual rule is for the circumference to 

 be three fourths the length of the same ear. An ear much 

 larger around than this may have too large a cob, and may 

 f*\ //~\ dry out t slowly. A very slender ear 

 " may have too small a cob, and grains that 

 are much too short 



Space between rows. If these fur- 

 rows are deep and wide, they indicate 

 a poorly shaped, round-shouldered kernel. 

 Such ears yield a low percentage of 

 grain (Fig. 83). 



Space between kernels at cob. Spaces 

 between the flat sides of the kernels, near 

 the cob, show that the grains are not oc- 

 EARS OF CORN cupying all the room they might (Fig. 84). 

 On right, too much On such ears, the tips of the kernels are 



space between ker- , , . ,, . , ,. 



nels at the cob- on a P t to " e to tnm r to " at Wlt " a sma " 



left, kernels fitting germ ; the grains seem loose when the 



close together. . . , 



ear is twisted. 



Proportion of corn to cob. This is determined by shell- 

 ing the ear (or half the ears in an exhibit of ten ears), and 

 weighing the shelled corn and the cob. The weight of the 

 shelled grain is then divided by the weight of cob and 

 grain. The quotient gives the per cent of grain on the 

 husked ear. With most highly bred varieties the selected 

 ears are expected to show at least 86 or 88 per cent of grain. 



Germination test. Vacant hills, or poor stands, greatly 

 reduce the yield of corn. They are often due to planting 



Fio. 84. SECTIONS 

 THROUGH TWO 



