j6 THE BOOK OF CORN 



Changes of this sort can usually be easily detected by 

 the expert judge, and a full cut for color for that ear 

 should be made. 



The shape and other characteristics of ears will 

 vary with every variety. It is the function of the ex- 

 pert judge to know the variety characteristics and to 

 score accordingly. 



HOW TO STUDY THE EXHIBIT 



Shape — In general an ear should be cylindrical. 

 This shape allows the development 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 the tip. This is usually the result of dropping a 

 row or more of kernels, about one-third the distance 

 from butt to tip. In the Learning variety, this charac- 

 teristic shape is nc^ particularly objectionable and no 

 cut should be made for such condition. 



The third grade of shape is the tapering ear, 

 which begins to taper at butt and the ear 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 of an ear with a 

 small percentage of cob to corn. The characteristic 

 shaped exhibit should be given the full number of 

 points, while for every partly cylindrical ear a cut of 

 one-fourth point should be made, and for every .taper- 

 ing ear a full cut. There are gradations between the 

 cylindrical, partly cylindrical and the tapering which 

 must be taken into account by the judge. 



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 



