THE SEED. 55 



crop grown, which should, be a pronounced 

 feature. Coarseness ought to be avoided. A 

 very large cob does not accompany great pro- 

 ductiveness. The ear stalks should not be too 

 large and long. Prof. Morrow recommends: * 



"For Central Illinois a comparatively low, short- jointed, 

 thickish stalk, with the ears borne low on short shanks; the 

 ear about nine inches long, 2 to 2i inches in diameter; nearly 

 uniform in thickness throughout, with 16 to 20 rows well 

 filled out at each end, and with but little space between the 

 rows; the kernels rather thick, solid, and as deep as may be 

 and of any color preferred, as this has little to do with 

 value." 



For the dent corns in general the recom- 

 mendation may well be applied. Mr. A. W. 

 Cheever, a Massachusetts farmer of wide repu- 

 tation, describes his ideal ear of flint corn as 

 follows:! 



"Ear not much larger at butt end than at tip end; would 

 avoid corn with very tapering ears; also those with rows 

 having spaces toward the butts. The corn should fill the 

 ear full all over and be crowded hard in the rows. The more 

 kernels to the inch of row the better.'' 



It may be asserted with perfect safety that 

 Cheever's description would apply equally well 

 to sweet corn. The number of rows to the ear 

 is largely a matter of choice. 



As a rule, a desirable type for all varieties 

 means small to medium size of cob, cylindrical 

 ears well covered with kernels at tip and butt, 



* Farmers'' Beview, March 23, 1888. 

 ^Orange Judd Farmer, Sept. 22,. 1888. 



