78 THE BOOK OF CORN 



The shape and other characteristics of ears will 

 vary with every variety. It is the function of the 

 expert judge to know the variety characteristics and 

 to score accordingly. 



HOW TO STUDY THE EXHIBIT 



Shape — The shape of the ear should conform to 

 the variety type. With most of the varieties it is 

 important that the ears should not be slender nor 

 taper too rapidly, as this indicates weakness or lack 

 of constitution; rather have the ears full in the mid- 

 dle, carrying their size well up to the tip, rounding 

 over quite rapidly. This shape allows the develop- 

 ment of uniform deep kernels from butt to tip and 

 usually results in a large percentage of corn to cob. 

 However, the characteristic Learning ear is partly 

 cylindrical, that is, cylindrical for part of its length 

 at butt and then slowly tapers to tip. This is usually 

 the result of dropping two or more rows of kernels, 

 about one-third the distance from butt to tip. In the 

 Leaming variety this characteristic shape is not par- 

 ticularly objectionable and no cut should be made for 

 such condition. Another objectionable shape is the 

 tapering ear, which begins to taper at butt and runs 

 out to a sharp-pointed tip. Such shape is always 

 objectionable from the fact that the butt kernels are 

 large and the tip kernels very small, usually the case 

 in an ear with a small percentage of corn to cob. 

 The exhibit showing the best variety shape should be 

 given the full number of points. 



Uniformity — A uniform exhibit means a sample, 

 all of the ears of which have the same size, shape, 

 type and general characteristics. This is one of the 

 most important points in the score card. A uniform 

 exhibit shows good breeding, while an irregular 

 exhibit shows poor selection. In judging uniformity 



