192 LESSONS l\ \I;IMI TLTURE 



t;u 111. and it will take about 150 ears of corn to make 

 sure that we have enough. It is now time to find out 

 what a good ear is, and to determine this it is necessary 

 to see it in all its parts. Not knowing the germinating 

 quality without actual trial, we shall have to be con- 

 tent in this first step of corn judging with what might 

 be termed a good show ear. The object of corn judging 

 is to determine the corn of highest quality, either for 

 feeding or market, and which is consequently most 

 profitable to grow. 



The score card. The study of the desirable charac- 

 teristics of corn has led to the formulation of a stand- 

 ard scale of points or "corn score card." The use of 

 the score card has been adopted as the best means of 

 comparing samples of corn, and is a valuable guide to 

 the student of corn judging in estimating the merits of 

 points in samples of corn. 



Samples for scoring. In corn-judging contests or in 

 schools, ten ears of corn are usually scored as a single 

 sample. Each ear may be scored separately, or the whole 

 ten may be averaged in one grade on each point of the 

 score card. For practical planting purposes and for our 

 school lesson we shall judge each ear separately. Study 

 carefully the illustrations of prize corn, and note as best 

 you can what may be required to make a perfect ear. 



NOTE. This lesson may be given in the fall in con- 

 nection with Lesson 14, if so desired. 



The following score card is used by the Indiana Corn 

 Growers' Association. The number opposite each of the 

 twelve points represents the perfect grade : 



