56 MANUAL OF 



solid. If immature it will twist loosely about in the hand. 

 Count the number of immature ears and cut the exhibit 

 one-half point for every diseased, chaffy, immature ear. 

 For instance, if there are six immature ears cut the 

 exhibit three points, or give it a marking of two on market 

 condition. In the cases where the corn samples must be 

 harvested unusually early in order to be sent to the 

 exhibit, as at fairs hld early in the autumn, the ears will 

 not have dried out, and consequently will be immature. 

 In such instances the judge must take this condition into 

 account and score on a uniform comparative basis. In 

 the study of market condition, the per cent of moisture 

 in the samples, the number of diseased and injured kernels, 

 together with the amount of all bits of silks, husks or 

 other debris, is carefully and accurately determined. Such 

 tests may not be practical in the actual process of judging 

 samples, but all corn judges should become familiar with 

 these tests in order to train the mind to take these con- 

 ditions accurately into account in scoring on market con- 

 dition.* 



TIPS OF EARS 



The tips of the ears should be filled out with regular 

 uniform sized kernels. No portion of the cob should pro- 

 ject beyond the kernels. If the cob does extend beyond the 

 kernels it shows that the tip kernels have not been prop- 

 erly developed. As the tip silks mature last on the ear, it 

 is natural that frequently the tip will mature so late that 

 all of the pollen will have gone by the time the silks of 

 the tip kernels are ready to be pollinated. In such cases 

 it will be found that the silks on the tip will keep growing 

 for an abnormal length of time, providing an opportunity 



'Bulletin No. 41, Botanical Investigations, U. S. Dept. Agri., 

 1903. (This bulletin contains a full explanation of these tests 

 and should be used as a guide in carrying on this work.) 



