Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-04-26

BY Prof. r. A. Moore, Wisconsin Col
lege OF Agriculture.

is TO determine Its trueness TO the type
or breed characteristics, There are
breeds Of corn, like breeds OF cattle
which have peculiar colors or forms Ia
distinguish them; as for instance the
Silver King is white variety and the
Golden Glow yellow variety. Ii is
difficult 10 distinguish between breeds
Of the same color, but this may be
learned by experience in handling
corn OF different breeds. In pure eorn
Of any breed there are certain marks
" hich can ne easily recognized.
The ideal ear is cyndrical, conform.
ing TO the variety and aot crooked or
tao taperiog.
II is as difficult to find an ear OF corn
perfect in shape as 1t is to fad cows,
horses and sheep witt perfect forms
The shape Of ears OF the different VAR
ieties OF corn differ as widely as the
shape aud form ofditierent pure breeds
Of cattle. Each class and variety has
a characteristic shape OF its own For
example, Silver King corn has an ear
of medium length, large IA circumfcr-
ence, while the Golden Glow has an
ear considerable shorter aud liner on
cob aud general conformation,
The most desirably shaped ear is
cyndrilisal from butt 10 TIP. Where
ears are inclined 10 taper, II will be
noticed that two or four rows, NJ rule
are dropped near the middleof the ear.
In scoring corn take into consideration
the soil OF climatic conditions ia hlcb
The corn is grown. The shape Of de-
sirable ear Tor central Illinois would
differ in many respects 10 the shape
most desirable for Wisconsin. The
shorter growing season ia Wisconsin
demands shallowef kernel aud a
smaller ear 10 enable the cora to ma-
ture I'D a snort season.
/ The color Of The grain should be uni.
form and true TO color standard for the
variety, free variety, free from missing
or diseolore,i Kernels.
The color Of the cob should be bright
cherry red for yellow corn aud pure
white for white corn.
The color Of the c,rn varies with the
breed. The Silver King corn has a
cream color, while the Boone County
White has pearly white color. Where
these shades predominant they come
\ characteristic of the breeds. Yellow
breeds vary slightly from pale yellow
To deep orange, aud can only he
j known by thorough acquaintance.
A bright cherry red cob denotes
health and vigor in corn aud pale or
darksred cob denotes lack Of constitu.
tion or vitality. The white corn cobs
should be gIistening white and not .
dead pale color.
4 Some farmers prefer to grow corn o.
certain colors. from tests made By
breeders Of corn, and by experiment
stations, it has been found that in gen
elai, color makes no difference 80 fal
AS feeding value is concerned, and 1t !,
merely matter of choice to the grower
as TO the color of corn he desires.
j Market condition means general ex.
cellence and the degree OF ripeness OF
maturity. Coin that shows q tendency
to be loose on the cob with wide spaces
i between the kernels should be scored
off severely under market conditions
i When corn is scored from the feeders
standpoint 1t is not cut so severity as
from the growers or seedman's stand.
point. When we consider that q
bushel of corn plants about six acres
and realize the importance to be at.
tached to uniformity Of stand we see
the value in seeing the market condi-
tion FROM the growers standpoint in n
critical way.
Corn will gradually become accust-
omed to its surroundings and will
adjust itself to varying conditions Of
soil and climate. BY selecting thoss
ears for seed that show good marEei
coalition, even If there be but few in
the entire field, the earliness OF the
corn can be improved materially.
/ The kernels should be extended ovei
/ the tip OF the ear in regular rows, and
be uniform in size and shape. They
/ should extend over the butt Of the eaI
in regular rows and be well developed
and uniform.
/ A perfect tip tas central kerne
called the cap, which Is com pletly eur
rounded by uniform kerr els. A per
feet Tip is rarely found, but those thai
come nearest to the ideal should b
/ chokea, provided that il is not at ths
expense of other more important
factors. The tip kernels are likely t.
be fiinty and Of pop corn shape
which 10 undesirable In dent corn. II
bare tips are noticeable 10 quite an ex'
tent throughout the field II may be dus
to the fact that the silks representing
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