1046 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. II 
sample. Where the samples were picked from the ears the kernels 
were taken from all parts, so that they would represent the whole 
ear rather than separate portions of it. Those samples taken from 
the same ears were planted in parallel rows, adjacent to each other 
(pi. 1, C). A test of 13 ears was included in this experiment, the 
results of which are shown in Table I. 
Table I .—Field performance of large and small kernels taken from the same ears 
of sweet corn 
Row 
No. 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
Ear 
No. 
Kernel grade 
Number 
of ker¬ 
nels 
planted 
Percent¬ 
age 
stand 
Relative size of 
stalks 
Days to 
full 
tassel 
/Large_ 
28 
85.7 
Large... . 
47 
/ 1 
\Small_ 
27 
40.7 
Small. _ 
54 
/Large_ __ 
30 
76.6 
Large__ 
51 
/ 2 
29 
37.9 
Small. 
54 
\ o 
/Large__ 
31 
96.8 
Large 
51 
I 3 
/Small_ 
27 
70.4 
Small _ 
56 
/Large__ 
28 
92.8 
Large _ __ 
51 
/ 4 
26 
76.9 
Small_ 
54 
/Large___ 
27 
96.7 
Large..__ 
51 
/ 5 
\Small_ . 
27 
77.7 
Small___ 
56 
| b 6 
/Large___ 
29 
93.1 
Large..__ 
51 
\Smail___ 
28 
85.7 
Medium... 
54 
1 . _ 
/Large__ 
27 
92.6 
Large _ 
47 
/ 7 
1 Small __ 
30 
86.6 
Medium 
50 
} 8 
/Large_ 
30 
93.1 
54 
I Small__ 
27 
90.0 
Small _ 
57 
\ a 
/Large__ 
30 
96.6 
Large__ ._ 
47 
/ 9 
27 
85.2 
55 
} 10 
25 
80.0 
Large__ 
51 
{small__ 
29 
96.5 
Small.... 
54 
} 11 
25 
84.0 
Large _ . 
47 
{small_ 
27 
85.2 
Small _ __ 
51 
/Large_ 
28 
92.8 
Large _ __ 
47 
V 6 12 
/Small__ 
24 
91.7 
Medium_ _ 
47 
I 13 
/Large__ _ 
22 
95.4 
Large___ 
47 
\Small__ 
22 
72.2 
Small__ 
53 
Stage of sweet corn 
Canning. 
Premilk. 
Canning. 
Premilk. 
Canning. 
Premilk. 
Canning. 
Premilk+ a . 
Canning+. 
Premilk+. 
Canning. 
Premilk+. 
Canning-K 
Canning. 
Canning. 
Premllk+. 
Dough—. 
Canning—. 
Canning. 
Canning—. 
Canning. 
Premilk. 
Dough—. 
Canning. 
Canning. 
Premilk. 
* The plus and minus signs are used to indicate conditions of maturity “greater than" or “less than/' 
respectively, the state of maturity with which they are used. Thus “premilk + ” means that the corn is 
slightly past the premilk stage, but not yet in the best canning condition, as determined by the thumb¬ 
nail test. 
«> The kernels in the “small" grade were distinctly smaller than those in the “large" grade, but neither 
as slender nor as light as those from the other ears; in a bulk sample they would be classed as medium¬ 
sized. Consequently, the stalks from these kernels were less delayed in beginning their growth, and there 
was less difference in time of reaching the canning stage. 
The most significant data in Table I are those for percentage of 
stand, days of full tassel, relative size of stalks, and condition of the 
com when the ears on the large stalks were ready to pick. In study¬ 
ing the stand or germination of the seeds for the various ears and 
grades it was found that the large kernels germinated better than the 
small ones. The large seed produced larger and stockier plants than 
the small ones, and the greater the difference in the size of the kernels the 
greater the difference in the size of the plant. These differences were 
plainly evident from the beginning ana remained so until the stalks 
were mature. The large stalks reached full tassel about five days 
before the small ones and the ears reached the canning stage with 
about the same time interval. When the ears of the large stalks 
were in the best canning condition, those on the small stalks were so 
tender and watery that the corn was unfit for use, and it would have 
taken about five days longer under the existing conditions for it to 
reach the same stage. 
