116 FIELD CROPS 



The Extension Division of the Iowa State College has 

 suggested four questions which should always be asked 

 regarding each ear of corn selected. These questions are: 

 (1) Will it yield? (2) Will it mature? (3) Does it show 

 improvement? (4) Will it grow? These four simple, practi- 

 cal questions may easily be kept in mind and if all of them 

 can be answered in the affirmative with regard to each ear 

 of corn selected, one can be reasonably certain that he is 

 saving good seed corn. 



147. Yield and Maturity. Indications of yield are size of 

 ear, depth of kernel, type of kernel, and proportion of corn 

 to cob. The importance of yield is understood by all. Indi- 



Fig. 37. Butts of ears. 



cations of maturity are firmness of the ear of corn or firmness 

 of the kernels on the cob, the manner in which the kernels 

 may be shelled from the cob, and the firmness and char- 

 acter of the kernel. The importance of maturity can hardly 

 be overestimated. There is nothing quite so discouraging 

 in corn-growing as a crop of soft corn. Corn that is well 

 matured has a considerably higher food value than immature 

 corn. Corn that is mature is quite likely to keep throughout 

 the year and germinate strong the following spring, while 

 immature corn is very likely to be injured or greatly weakened 

 for seed. The farmer who grows corn that is practically cer- 

 tain to mature may have slightly smaller yields in favorable 



