ACIDITY IK DETERMINING SOUNDNESS OF CORN. 



13 



an acidity of 22 c. c, but it will be seen also that these three samples 

 were exceptionally low in percentage of germination. A fourth 

 sample very low in percentage of germination did not exceed an 

 acidity of 22 c. c. The agent or agencies which destroyed the germi- 

 native power of this corn did not cause abnormal increase in degree 

 of acidity. This is contrary to the general rule, because agencies 

 which destroy germinative power are generally the same agencies 

 which cause abnormal acidity. It is mainly through deterioration 

 of the germ that the degree of acidity is increased, as shown in figures 

 32 and 33 (p. 44). 



Table VIII summarizes the relationship of low germinative power 

 to high acidity. Germination tests were made in connection with 



Fig. 10.— Curves showing the uniformly low degree of acidity in corn selected for seed in which there is 



a high percentage of germination. 



acidity tests on all samples handled in this investigation. The 

 samples in this table represent the widest possible range in quality 

 and condition of corn, from first-class country crib corn in excellent 

 condition through various conditions and stages of deterioration as 

 found in corn shipped from country stations and arriving at terminal 

 markets and European ports. The samples are grouped according 

 to their source. The average degree of acidity of samples in each 

 group which showed a percentage of germination less than 20 is com- 

 pared with the average degree of acidity of samples which showed a 

 percentage of germination ranging from 21 to 40, 41 to 60, 61 to 80, and 

 81 to 100. The table shows that corn with a low germinative power 

 is higher in degree of acidity than corn of high germinative power, 

 irrespective of the source of the sample. 



