ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 225 



1. That the ear of corn is approximately uniform throughout in the 

 chemical composition of its kernels. 



2. That there is a wide variation in the chemical composition of 

 different ears, even of the same variety of corn. These two facts are 

 well illustrated in Table 1. 



Table 1. — Protein in Single Kernels. 



Ear A, Ear B, Ear C, EarD, 



protein, protein, protein, protein, 

 per cent, per cent, per cent, per cent 



Kernel No. 1 ~ 12.46 11.53 7.45 8.72 



Kernel No 2 12.54 12.32 7.54 8.41 



Kernel No. 3 12.44 12.19 7.69 8.73 



rKenel No. 4 12.50 12.54 7.47 8.31 



Kernel No. 5 12.30 12.14 7.74 8.02 



Kernel No. 6 ; . . 12.49 12.95 8.70 8.76 



Kernel No. 7 12.50 12.84 8.46 8.89 



Kernel No. 8 12.14 * 8.69 9.02 



Kernel No. 9 12.14 12.04 8.86 8.96 



Kernel No. 10 12.71 12.75 8.10 8.89 



* Determination lost by accident. 



It will be observed that, while there are, of course, small differences 

 among the different kernels of the same ear, yet each ear has an individ- 

 uality as a whole, the difference in composition between different ears 

 being much more marked than between different kernels of the same 

 ear. 



The uniformity of the individual ear makes it possible to estimate or 

 to determine the composition of the corn by the examination or analysis 

 of a few kernels. The remainder of the kernels on the ear may then be 

 planted if desired. The wide variation in the composition between differ- 

 ent ears furnishes a starting point for the selection of seed in any of the 

 several different lines of desired improvement. 



The methods of making a chemical selection of ears of seed corn by 

 a simple mechanical examination of the kernels is based upon the fact that 

 the kernel of corn is not homogenous in structure, but consists of several 

 distinct and readily observable parts of markedly different chemical com- 



