CORN JUDGING 53 



it is an evidence of very careless selection and should 

 bar the sample. A yellow kernel in a white ear, or a white 

 kernel in a yellow ear, is an evidence of mixed corn.* 

 In other words, in the case of the yellow kernel in the 

 white ear a stray pollen grain from a yellow variety has 

 fallen on a silk and fertilized a kernel of white corn. 

 Single mixed kernels in an ear show merely accidental 

 mixture, and if the ear is to be used for seed the mixed 

 kernels should he removed to prevent it from effecting 

 further mixture the next year. In looking for mixture 

 the tips and butts of the ears must be closely examined. 

 The young ear ripens silks on the butt first, the middle 

 of the ear next, and the tip last. If the butt silks should 

 ripen so early that the pollen of that variety is not ready 

 to fertilize them, they will either not be filled out or will 

 be fertilized by the pollen of some earlier variety which 

 may be growing in the vicinity. As frequently happens, 

 the tip silks may not appear until the pollen of the variety 

 is gone. In this case the tip may either not be filled out 

 or may le fertilized by pollen of some late variety, thus 

 causing mixture. If the mixture is between yellow and 

 white corn, it can be seen in the yellowish cast of the 

 white kernels or the whitish cast in the yellow kernels, 

 particularly in the so-called "White Cap." 



For one or two mixed kernels in an ear a cut of .25 point 

 should be made. For three or four mixed kernels cut .5 

 point; for four or five such kernels cut .75 point and for 

 more than five cut one point. All missing kernels may be 

 assumed to he mixed kernels ; and in exhibits in corn shows 

 a cut of .1 point should be made for every missing kernel. 



MARKET CONDITION 



By market condition is meant ripeness, soundness, free- 

 dom from injury or disease, and brightness of color. In 



*Bulletin No. 22, Vegetable Physiological and Pathological 

 Investigations, U. S.*Dept. Agri. 1900. (Every corn student should 

 read this bulletin carefully.) 



