CORN JUDGING 15 



be taken into account in the preparation of a score card 

 interfere with the results and frequently cause a wrong 

 decision, e. g., with the uniformity of exhibit. In other 

 words, there are no absolute rules which can be laid 

 down by which samples of corn can be properly judged. 

 The judgment of the person who is comparing the sam- 

 ples must enter into the score, and his experience guide 

 him in marking each point in the score card. 



In exhibits of corn ten ears usually constitute a 

 sample. This number makes it possible to get a fair 

 idea of the general uniformity of the race, and at the 

 same time it offers a convenient number for the neces- 

 sary calculations in the scoring of the samples. How- 

 ever, the number of ears is a matter which must be 

 decided by the judges, and will necessarily vary under 

 certain conditions. Other things being equal, a large 

 number of ears is better than a small number. Of course 

 exceptions must be made for exhibits of best individual 

 ears and other cases, in which event the sample is scored 

 in the same manner as an exhibit of ten ears, and the 

 total score multiplied by ten in order to have all the 

 scores on a uniform basis. Where one hundred ears, more 

 or less, are presented as a sample, it will be found to be 

 most convenient to take out ten ears, say every tenth 

 ear, and judge this sample for all of the points except 

 uniformity and other general characteristics where the 

 entire sample may be taken into consideration. 



In selecting corn for an exhibit great care should 

 be taken that the individual ears are not injured in 

 any way. By carelessly dropping an ear part of the 

 kernels may be shelled off or mutilated. This will inter- 

 fere in determining the per cent of corn in the ear, and 

 leave doubt as to the purity of the color of the grains. 

 The judge may take into account the actual condition 

 of the sample, so that every missing grain or injury 

 will reduce the total score. During the process of judging 



