54 SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



undesirable in the parent plant, and would likewise be 

 undesirable in the offspring. 



(4) A shank of medium size and strength. 



(4) A. shank too large and strong ; or one that is small 

 and weak ; or two stalks, each showing one of these faults. 



If the shank is too large, the cob is also large, and the 

 proportion of corn to cob, i.e., the shelling percentage, is 

 small. Also the ear will be held with tip upward, and it 

 will be hard to break off when husking. On the other 

 hand, if the shank is too small, the ear is liable to be broken 

 off by the fall winds. 



(5) A stalk bearing an ear, whose husks are of m£dium 

 thickness and do not fit too closely. 



(5) A stalk bearing an ear whose husks are too thick and 

 fit too closely ; or one bearing an ear whose husks are too 

 thin and loose ; or better yet, secure a specimen of each 

 description. 



If the husks are thick and close, the ear will dry out 

 slowly, maturing late; also it will be hard to husk. If 

 they are too thin and loose, the com may be damaged 

 by the elements or otherwise. 



(6) A stalk whose ear is well matured at the time when 

 the first killing frosts of autumn are about due. 



(6) A stalk whose ear is wet, heavy and immature at this 

 time. 



In most parts of the Com Belt, early maturity is con- 

 sidered highly desirable as it lessens the danger of having 

 the crop injured when the fall frosts come. To this end, 

 seed is often selected in the field before the first frosts have 

 come in the fall. If well matured ears are chosen at that 

 time for seed, the crop raised from this seed should like- 

 wise mature early. In this way, the time required to 

 mature the crop has been gradually reduced by northern 

 growers with the result that corn is now raised successfully 



