The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-12
BY ISAAC L. TOTEM.

best time to select our seed corn was
before October 10th, to avoid injury
from frosts but somehow, for reasons
best known to those who did not fol-
low the advice, the time slipped past.
The next best time, of course, for
picking out the good seed ears is while
husking. Every corn grower in Wayne
county knows that 1t isn't very de-
strable practice to wait until the corn
Is in the crib before selecting the seed
ears, or the ears that are to take the
prize at the corn show this winter, II
we have one
Did you ever go out to the corn crib
and paw and dig around for nearly a
whole day trying to get some good
seed ears or some beauties to take to
a show? You are sure they are there
somewhere, but you can't find them be-
cause they are at the bottom of the
pile.
Many farmers who make it prac-
tice to select their seed while husking,
have a basket in the wagon or a box
attached to the side OF the wagon:
then when they find those prize win
ners they place them in the basket
of box and say, We've got you where
we want you this time"
Every corn grower, at least nine out
OF every ten, can select pretty ear
OF corn as readily as he can pick out
a pretty girl when he sees one. Some
one has said that next 70 a pretty girl
an ear of corn is the prettiest thing
on earth. The greatest trouble with
good or pretty ears of corn is that
they are about as scarce as w. C. T.
U. women at a Bohemian picnic.
Many farmers have little trouble in
selecting ears of corn that do very
well for seed; but there are others who
do not know the many points that are
to be considered in selecting the per-
feet, or nearly perfect, rather, Indiana
type OF ear. That is the points that
are judged at corn show.
For the benefit of those who missed
the corn Judging work under the direc-
ton Of Prof. G. I. Christie, at the sixth
district corn school held in Richmond
last February, we will set forth the
points. as we remember them, to be
looked for in selecting desirable ears
of corn for either seed or exhibition
purposes.
AS the score card. which is used by
the judges In checking up the points
OF merit in the ears of corn of the vari
Gus exhibitions at corn show, fur
nishcs a good basis from which to
work while considering the choice ears
and as the points to be considered in
fixing the prizes at the show are pre-
cisely the same as those to be looked
for in selecting good seed corn. sup
pose we use the score card now in
our explanation
The following is the official score
card as adopted by the Indiana Corn
Growers association:
Uniformity of Exhibit, 10 points.
2. Shape of ears. 10 points.
3. Length of ears. 10 points.
T. Color of Grain and Cob, 10
points.
5. Tips of Ears. 5 points.
6. Butts of Ears, 5 points.
Z. Kernel
(a) Shape, 10 points.
lb) Indentation, 5 points.
(cl Uniformity. 10 points.
s. Seed condition, Is points.
0. Proportion Of Grain to Cob 10
points.
No 1.-The first point on the score
card, as will be seen Is uniformity
of exhibit" This, OF course. refers to
the trueness to the type Of the ears
selected. There might be ten nice,
shapely ears consisting Of two Of three
varieties or mixtures. One reason for
having ten ears as the standard sized
exhibit 10 to see the relationship of
the ears; another rea son is to test the
exhibitors knowledge of good corn.
Any corn grower can readily under
stand the reason for this point, and
can see it's value from a seed selecting
standpoint.
No. 2.-Shape Of ears-An ear Of
cylindrical shape. we'll rounded at each
end, affords the largest percentage
of grain per cob as well as kernels Of
the most uniform shape. In selecting
an ear for seed, one naturally picks
the one that shows vigor. symmetry Of
form-not too large in circumference
for the length nor too small in circum-
ference for the length-and the rows
of kernels should be as straight as can
be found. The kernels should fit COM
pactly together on both sides and edg-
es. and should be uniform in shape on
all portions Of the ear,
No. 3.-Length Of ears-for this
section of Indiana. the Indiana Germ
Growers association has decided that
the standard length OF ears should be
ten inches.
No. Color of Grain and Cob
There should be no off color kernels,
and in the yellow ears of corn there
should be no white cobs. The kernels
should present an oily appearance as
though they had life. The cobs should
have bright. healthy color
No. Slips Of Ears-The tip ex-
tends half inch back from the tip
end of the ear. The tips should be
well rounded and the nearer the
straight rows of kernels come to the
end the better.
No. 6.-Butts of ears The butt
should also be Well rounded with the
straight rows of kernels extending
close to the end. The shank should be
medium in length and strength.