EXERCISES 



65 



How many stalks per acre? 



Weigh three ears of dry corn, representing small, medium, and large ears. 

 How many bushels per acre if each stalk produced an ear? Figure for 

 all three sizes ( 70 pounds ears per bushel ) . 

 Use following form to report: 



Selecting Seed Corn. Class select 100 seed ears, and divide into four 

 lots. Store each lot in a different place, selecting at least one good, dry, airy 

 place, and one place where corn will dry poorly, as a tight barrel or box. 

 Later make germination tests to determine effect of storage on yield. 



If apparatus is available, it will be well to determine moisture present 

 when gathered, and twice a month while drying. 



Study of Germinating Quality of Corn. The purpose of this exer- 

 cise is to acquaint the student with the characteristic appearance of good 

 and poor kernels of seed corn, with special reference to germinating qualities. 



Preparing Germination Box. A box 15 inches square and 3 inches deep 

 will germinate 25 ears. 



1. Put 2 inches of sawdust in box and tamp down well with a brick. 



2. Lay on the sawdust a piece of blotting paper or white cloth which 

 has previously been marked into 3-inch squares. 



3. Number 25 ears of corn. 



4. Take from each ear G kernels from near the butt, middle, and tip, and 

 place in germinator. Examine two or three more kernels by cutting open 

 with a sharp knife. 



5. Mark a piece of note paper into 25 squares and fill out in corre- 

 sponding squares the following data on each ear. This is to give you an 

 opportunity to make a detailed study. 



A. Grain: 



1. Appearance bright; dull? 



2. Discolored back; tip? 



3. Shape of tip pointed; plump? 



4. General texture hard; soft? 



B. Germs: 



5. Covering smooth; blistered? 

 G. Texture soft; medium; dry? 



7. Air-space large; small; none? 



8. Color normal; yellowish; etc.? 



6. On a second sheet state your opinion on germinating quality and also 

 data secured. 



1. How do you expect this to germinate good, medium, poor? 



2. Number germinated 6 days? 



3. Number germinated 10 days? 



4. Is germination strong, medium, weak? 

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