14 BULLETIN 708, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
ADVANTAGES IN MARKET QUALITY. 
The price of corn is governed in part by its commercial grade. In 
order to improve the grade of corn offered on the market, growers 
are sometimes advised to cull the damaged ears. It is oe to 
cull only such as are extensively damaged. After culling, there may 
be as much or more damaged corn remaining as was removed, because 
it is scattered through a large percentage of the ears in hts form of 
discolored and worm-moldy kernels. It has been shown (Table VII) 
that shuck protection reduces both of these kinds of damage. For 
this reason it also makes possible a higher grade of corn than can 
otherwise be secured. 
RELATION OF INCREASED SHUCK PROTECTION TO THE COST OF. 
SHUCKING. 
There is a noticeable variation in the amount and kind of shucks 
on corn grown in different sections of the United States. Whenever 
unshucked corn is subjected to weevil attack, the ears with poor 
shuck protection are more or less damaged and to that extent are 
eliminated from the corn to be used for seed. This, then, leaves a 
higher proportion of the sound corn on ears with good shuck protec- 
tion. For this reason, the natural tendency, with other circum- 
stances favorable, has been toward the use of seed from ears with 
good shuck protection. So, as a general rule, varieties native to 
weevil-infested sections have a heavier and longer shuck than those 
native to sections without weevils. Notwithstanding the overpower- 
ing influence of natural circumstances in weevil-infested sections and 
its weaker influence in other sections, there has been a general tend- 
ency on the part of corn growers toward a lighter and shorter shuck. 
The chief reason for this preference has been the desire to reduce the 
amount of hand labor required to shuck the ears. 
In some varieties commonly grown in weevil-infested sections, 
the shuck protection can be greatly improved without producing 
a greater amount of shuck. This can be done by improving the 
shape of the present shucks by means of selection, having in view 
longer and closer fitting coverings. Then, too, improved machinery 
is now available which may be made to meet any objection to the 
increased quantity of shuck that is- necessary to protect the ears. 
These machines are known as ‘‘shuck shellers” and are now commonly 
used by the larger grain and feed dealers in the South. Either the 
shucked or unshucked ears, after having been broken from the stalks, 
are handled by these machines. In the case of ears in the shucks, the 
shelled grain, the cobs, and the shucks are separated. The shucks are 
usually baled and sold for feed, but occasionally mattress and other 
factories take a part of the output. Some of the companies have 
received inquiries from paper manufacturers regarding the quantity 
