Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-10-05
SELECTING CORN
FOR EXHIBITION
Ears Should Be Uniform In
Shape, Size And Quality.
STUDY EACH EAR CAREFULLY
100 Or More OfYour Best Ears Shou'o
Be Selected In The Field To Choose
From Have Your County
Agent Advise You.

College Park, Md, October 5.-lh
connection with the numerous local
exhibits which County Demonstration
Agents a1e arranging for their Corn
Club members, they are issuing IN
structions regarding the selection OF
ten ear exhibits. In regard to the Sc
lection OF corn for exhibition, Nicholas
Schmitz, of the Extension Service,
saws" In selecting ten ears FOR ex
hibition the first thing to remember
Is that the sample will be judged as
whole and not in part on the merits or
few exceptionally good ears. TWO
or three unusually fine ears cannot
make up for the deficiency OF the rest
of the sample They will bring out
more prominently tie poor qualities
Of the other ears and therefore detract
from, rather than add to, the appear
ance Of the sample.
"The following score card and ex'
PLANTATION will aid III making the Sc
lection:
Uniformity Of Exhibit. ........... ~
Shape of Ears. .......,......... ~
Length of Ears. ................. ~
Circumference Of Ears. ,.......
Maturity and Market Condition.. 10
Purity of Kernel. .......,.......
Purity of Cob. ................,.
Kernel: (a) shape (b) uniformity 10
Germ and Space Between Kernels ~
Butts and Tips. .................
Size OF Cob. MATHEMATICIAN. ~
Uniformity OF EXHIBIT: Uniform
lty should be one of the principal con-
siderations in selecting corn for eXhi-
bition. Have every ear like every
other ear in shape, size, character OF
kernel, color OF cob and in shade or
color of the grain. When selecting
sample. first pick out in the field while
husking or from the wagon or crib,
one hundred or more of the best ears
to be found. Lay them out on table
or floor side by side, and having IN
mind all the characters of good ear,
study each carefully and eliminate the
poorest ones Two or three hours can
be spent very protitably at this. Next,
select two or three of the most ideal
ears In the pile, using each as stand
ard, match them with as many good
ears as can be found. Finally, out OF
these lots, choose the best ten ears
that will match.
Shape Of Ear: THE ear should be
cylindrical, or at least only slightly
tapering. with rows running straight
from butt to tip. A tapering ear has
either less rows on one end than Oh
the other, or the kernels are shorter
or narrower on the tip end.
Length and Circumference OF Ear:
AN ear should not be long and slim
circumference vary with the variety
but all ears Of an exhibit should be OF
the same length and circumference
The common standard for all varie-
ties requires that the length should
be to the circumference as is to j.
An ear ten inches long should have
circumference of about seven and one.
half inches when measured One-third
Of the distance from butt to tip. For
all sections OF Maryland east of the
mountain district the standard length
should be between 9h and 1919 inches
for all single,eared varieties. Ears
smaller than this will not give the
maximum yield. For prolific varieties,
and the mountain district, the length
should be between 7 and inches.
Consult your County Demonstra
ton Agent in selecting exhibits for
display"