Appendix E 447 



and cultivated under regular field conditions. Two buffer rows 

 should be planted completely around the plot. These should 

 be cut and discarded before the interior rows of the plot are 

 studied. Their purpose and use should be explained to the 

 class. 



Program. After the instructor has explained the purpose of 

 the practicum, and the manner of procedure for the afternoon, 

 the class may be taken to .the field. Each student should have 

 one or two rows for himself. Students may be permitted to 

 work in pairs, if desirable. Careful and detailed notes should 

 be made on each row and recorded on data sheets provided for 

 that purpose. The corn may be taken back to the laboratory 

 for weighing. Statistics for the whole plot should then be 

 compiled, so that the individuality of different rows can be 

 compared. The student should select 10 of the best ears from 

 each of his rows and put them on the drying rack provided. 

 These ears are to be used later for a study in the laboratory. 



EXERCISE 18 



Corn-judging 



Students of plant-breeding should be trained to have a critical 

 judgment of agricultural and horticultural plants. Exercises 

 in comparative judging are the best way to attain this end. 

 Utility should be kept constantly in mind. 



Details of corn judging will not be given here; they are too 

 well known to need emphasis. For the East,, both dent and 

 flint varieties should be used. The ears which are judged in 

 this exercise may be the ones the student himself has previously 

 harvested from the ear-to-row plot. The best ten ears should 

 be used for Exercise 19, which should always accompany exer- 

 cise 18. 



Object. To encourage critical judgment of corn and, by the 

 same means, of other crops. 



