TIPS AND BUTTS 51 



shallow and irregular kernels on the ear, which makes the 



kernels on that part of the ear undesirable for planting. 



In judging the character of the butt of an ear of corn, the 



way in which the rows come over towards the shank is 



Fig. 26. Desirable and undesirable tips. The three tios, beginning at the left, are 

 undesirable ; the one at the right is almost perfect. The first one at the left has a 

 bare cob ; the second is double tipped ; and the third is too pointed. 



important. If the corn comes in too close, it reduces the 

 size of the shank where it is attached to the ear, and causes 

 the ears to drop off during the ripening period. Corn 

 breeders in desiring to get a large proportion of corn to the 

 cob, often choose ears with too small an attachment for 

 the shank. All ears that have butts improperly rilled should 

 be rejected. The butt and the tip kernels are rejected for 

 planting, because they are more likely to be mixed with 

 other varieties, and since, due to their peculiar round forma- 



Fig. 27. Butts of corn ears four kinds. The one at the left is well formed, the 

 next is too contracted ; the third too flat, and that at the right is badly formed and 

 poorly filled out. 



tion, they interfere in the planting. They also are weaker 

 in germination and vary more in growth than kernels from 

 the middle parts of the ear. 



No planter plate can handle butt and tip kernels so as to 



