94 



CORN JUDGING 



FIG. 32. An ideal ear of dent corn 

 of fancy type. 



FANCY CHARACTERS 



Under fancy characters are included 

 all those considerations that have to do 

 with the symmetry and uniformity of 

 the ears. This includes shape of ears and 

 kernels, straightness of rows, and filling 

 over butt and tip (Fig. 32). These 

 points have some practical value, as they 

 indicate the care and skill with which 

 the corn has been selected and grown, 

 but do not always have a direct bearing 

 on ability to yield, and hence are of sec- 

 ondary importance. In general, the 

 standards which have been adopted for 

 dent corn are described as follows : 



Shape of Ear. The shape should 

 be, in general, cylindrical, with a cir- 

 cumference about three-fourths of the 

 length. There are less irregularities in 

 a cylindrical ear than in a tapering. An 

 ear is tapering from two causes, (1) 

 extra rows in the butt end, or (2) the 

 kernels become shorter toward the tip. 



Butts of Ear. Regular, with as 

 few misshapen kernels as possible. 

 The butt should not be enlarged or 

 tapering, but almost the same circum- 

 ference as the middle. A large, coarse 

 shank increases the difficulty of husk- 

 ing. If the shank is too small the ear 

 is apt to drop off. 



Tips of Ears. The full length of 

 kernel without much change in size 

 should be carried up to near the tip. 

 The rows should be regular and carried 

 well over the tip, so not more than a 

 small tip of cob is exposed. 



