166 SOILS AND PLANT LIFE 



indicate a crossing of varieties. For this reason, an ear 

 showing mixed kernels, like one showing evidence of 

 impaired vitality, mitsi be barred from all judging contests 

 of seed corn. 



We must not understand that the variegated kernels of 

 such varieties of com as the " calico " are mixed kernels 

 in the above sense. 



Conclusion. — List carefully and fully in your notebook 

 the desirable characters of a kernel of corn and give your 

 reasons. List, also the undesirable characters and tell 

 why they are undesirable. Go over in your mind again 

 and again the important points already given — fifteen in 

 all — under (1) Soundness and Maturity, (2) The Ear 

 and (3) The Kernel, that you may think of them in 

 logical order while selecting and judging the ears to be used 

 in the next exercise. 



Can you rank these fifteen points in order of impor- 

 tance, giving good reasons for placing them as you do? 



EXERCISE 45 



Object. — To find and award a blue ribbon to a prize- 

 winning ear. 



Procedure. — Select and bring to the schoolroom an 

 ear which approaches the ideal as nearly as possible. This 

 ear should be taken from among those which you selected 

 and stored away for this pmpose some time ago as required 

 in Section 41, unless you are able to find a better one else- 

 where. 



Bring it securely wrapped in paper so that other mem- 

 bers of the class may not know to whom it belongs. Leave 

 it with the teacher, who will attach to it a numbered tag 

 and keep a record of the owners of all ears entered in this 

 way in the contest. 



Remember that this ear must be sound and mature, 



