60 MANUAL OF 



In the ease of the butt the silks occasionally mature so 

 early that there is no pollen ready for the fertilization of 

 the butt kernels, although in most varieties the pollen 

 matures before the silks. Therefore we find a large pro- 

 portion of good butts more frequently than good tips. 



In showing corn it is very desirable to trim out with a 

 knife all traces of the ear stalk. This will add to the 

 appearance of the exhibit in a perfectly legitimate way. 

 In fact, this grooming of the ears should be carefully 

 attended to by the exhibitors, as a little attention will 

 frequently add considerable to the scoring of the exhibit. 



The size of the depression in the butt of an ear will 

 depend on the variety. In a large variety, as Boone County 

 White, it will be larger than in a smaller eared variety, as 

 Eiley's Favorite. This characteristic must be taken into 

 account by the judge through familiarity with the breeds 

 of corn. 



In scoring butts a very poorly filled butt in which the 

 kernels do not cover the end of the cob should be cut .5 

 of a point. If the kernels cover the cob, but are fiat, 

 shallow and irregular, cut .3 of a point. If the kernels 

 are regular in size, but do not swell out beyond the cob, 

 cut .2 of a point. In the case of kernels swelling out 

 beyond the cob in an irregular manner cut .1 of a point. 

 If the kernels are swelled about the shank in regular man- 

 ner, leaving concave depression, give full marking. 



Uniformity of Kernels 



The shape of the kernel will depend somewhat on the 

 variety. Whatever the shape of the kernel in an exhibit, 

 it should be uniform. The size of the kernel should be 

 the same in all of the ears. To examine kernel uniformity 

 take out two kernels with a knife from each ear about 

 one-third the distance from the butt to the tip. Lay 



