68 



THE BOOK OF CORN 



winter the ears can be taken down and packed 

 for shipment. All seed corn should be shipped 

 on the cob, and it will not be many years until 

 it will be impossible to sell shelled seed in the case of 

 corn to be used for breeding purposes. A most con- 

 venient method of shipping is to wrap every ear in a 

 piece of old newspaper, and put the ears in a box 

 which will hold about one bushel. This box or crate 

 can be purchased of box factories, or the seed grower 



can make it himself at a 

 slight expense. A sugar 

 barrel is convenient for 

 packing large shipments. 

 Shipping Seed Corn — 

 In any event, the greatest 

 care should be taken that 

 the seed corn reaches the 

 customer in the best possi- 

 ble condition, with no in- 

 jury to the ear. It is also 

 desirable that care be 

 taken to groom the ears, 

 by removing all shanks or 

 husks, and the ear be made 

 to present the best possible 

 impression on the cus- 

 tomer. 



It is imperative that all 

 seed sent out should be 

 thoroughly tested, and 

 test not less than ninety- 

 five per cent vitality. The practice of unscrupulous 

 seed dealers in the past has justly prejudiced many 

 people against the use of imported seed corn. In many 

 cases the corn was poor in quality and of no particular 

 selection, so that the results were unsatisfactory. This 



Fig 22— Pollen Drains on Silk 

 Greatly magnified 



