146 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
11. Grading wheat. — Obtain from your local grain elevator or other 
source a description of the wheat grades that are used as the standard 
in the markets. Name the various grades recognized, and note the 
chief points that determine the grading. 
12. Corn judging. — A good farmer is an expert in judging all kinds 
of farm produce, live stock, and other things with which his business is 
concerned. Corn judging is an excellent practice and will help to develop 
a valuable ability. 
Type. In judging an ear of corn we must know the ideal or type it 
is supposed to approach. It is important that it should conform to 
the characteristics of the type as closely as possible in such matters 
as the shape, length, and thickness of the ear, and color of kernel 
and cob. 
Ripeness. The kernels must be ripe, hard, plump, and bright. 
Tip and butt. Tip of ear must be well covered with uniform kernels 
and must not be too tapering. The butt must be neither open nor 
swelled, and the shank must be small. 
Rows. Must be straight and close together, and there must be no 
spaces between the kernels in the row. 
Corn and cob. The cob must not be too large. A selected ear of 
dent may easily yield as high as 85% of its weight in grain, leaving 
only 15% for the cob. In flint corn the proportion is not quite so 
high. 
13. Oral and Written Composition. — These subjects are especially 
suitable : 
a. Our field crops. — Project No. 1, with brief description of each kind 
of crop raised. 7 
b. Special merits of fife wheat (or other crop you wish to advocate). — 
No. 4. 
c. How we harvest corn. — No. 5s. 
d. How to increase the yield. — No. 6. 
