410 CORN 



9. Size of Cob. Ears with large, coarse, pithy cobs dry out 

 slower, are later maturing, and shell less corn. The cob 

 may be so small as to indicate weakness. 



IV. VITALITY (GERMINATING POWER). 



1. Color of Embryo. A yellow or brownish colored embryo 

 indicates that it has been frozen. Paleness in color usually 

 means loss of vitality, due to long storage. Sometimes 

 just one of the sprouts will be affected. 



2. Condition of Embryo. A large, swollen embryo indicates 

 that it is full of moisture and liable to freezing. When 

 shrunken, it may be weak because of prolonged storage. 



3. Adherence of Tip Cap to Cob. Tip caps adhering to the 

 * cob, leaving the black tips of the germs exposed, indicate 



weakness. 



4. Blistering of Kernel. A kernel blistered on the back indi- 

 cates that it was immature and from rapid drying the con- 

 traction of the cells left an air space under the hull. When 

 the face of a germ is puffed up or wrinkled, it shows that 

 the material composing the germ has shrunken and a 

 close inspection of the embryo should be made. 



5. Size of Germ. The germ should be large and open on 

 the surface, deep, showing strength and plenty of nutri- 

 ment for immediate use of the germinating plantlet. 



6. Plumpness of Tips of Kernels. Plump tips indicate ma- 

 turity and give room for large germs. 



7. Adherence of Chaff to Tip Cap. Chaff adhering to tip 

 caps of kernels indicates lack of vigor. 



8. Condition of Cob. A cob is often dark colored or may 

 show a bluish, mouldy appearance around the butt. In 

 such a case, it has not been properly stored or else was 

 immature when gathered. 



g. Starchiness. Starchiness indicates a smaller food sup- 

 ply for the growing plant. 



10. Chaffiness. Looseness on the cob and thin, light kernels 

 are indicative of weak germinating power. 



.11. Sappiness. Corn containing a high percentage of mois- 

 ture is liable to freezing. 



