118 FIELD CROPS 



In a general way, the ears that have proved capable of pro- 

 ducing the best yields are somewhat uniform in circumference 

 from butt to tip; that is, they do not taper noticeably. Ears 

 on which the rows of kernels are straight are to be pre- 

 ferred to ears with crooked, irregular rows, as a much larger 

 proportion of the kernels are uniform and consequently 

 suitable for seed. Ears of corn with coarse, rough butts are 

 objectionable for the same reason that pure-bred animals 

 that are coarse of bone and irregular in form are not desirable. 

 It is generally advisable to select ears of corn on which the 

 tips are rather well filled. If the tips are not filled, it indi- 



Fig. 38. Tips of ears: (1) A good tip, well-filled; (2) a long, tapering, irregular 

 tip; (3) a broad tip, not filled out; (4) an unfilled tip. Only No. 1 is desirable. 



cates that for some reason the corn has not reached maturity 

 or has not developed properly. Deep furrows between the 

 rows of kernels are objectionable chiefly because there is 

 nothing in these furrows but air and it is much better to 

 have the furrows filled out nearly full with corn. It is there- 

 fore desirable to select ears on which the kernels occupy all 

 of the space next to the cob. On careful examination, many 

 ears will be found with considerable open space between the 

 tips of the kernels, simply due to the poor shape of the ker- 

 nels. Such ears should be avoided. 



152. Type of Kernel. If one is to make a careful and 

 accurate selection of corn, he can not overlook the kernel. 



