Hutchison, C. B. (Claude Burton), 1885-1980

University of Missouri: MOspace

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE 01<' AGRICUL'l'URE Agricultural Experiment Station COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, OCTOBER, 1910 CIRCULAR NO. 45 SELEOTING AND JUDGING OORN C. B. H UTCHISON, Instrllctor in .'l.gronomy. The same reasons that make it necessary to select animals care-fully in breeding live stock also make it necessary to select ears of corn carefully if one wishes to make better corn. A good ear of com will produce other ears like it if conditions are favorable and f.or this rea-son only good ears should be selected for planting. If we should all take as much care in selecting our seed corn as the breeder of animals does in selecting animals, the yield of corn in Missouri would be greatly i·ncreasecl. In selecting corn for show. or for seed one should have definitely in mind the characteristics of a good ear of corn. A good ear may be described as follows: The ear shoul(1 be from 9Y:.! to IOY::! 'inches long and 7 to 7Y:.! inches around , me'asmecl at a point one-third the distance fr0111 the butt tq the tip. It should be practically the same diameter from end to end; that is it shollld not be distinctly tapering. The rows ~f kernels shollle! be straight. anc! the kernels should be of such shape that they will fit tightly together with no furrows left between the rows. The butts should be well rounded out with kernels evenly arranged around a ctlp-shapecl cavity about one inch across. The tips should be well filled 011t to the cnel with deep, even kemels. The kernels of the ear should all be very nearly the same size and shape. They should be w~clgec1-shaped but not pointed; they should have large smooth hearts or germs 110t blighted, nor discolored. The length of the kernel should be about one amI one-half times as great as its width at the widest part and it shoulclbe of the same thickness from one end to the other. The kernels should show no mixture with corn of the opposite color. The cob should be of medium size, neither very large nor very small. (85) 86 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, CIRCULAR 45 . Score Card A==Corn SCALE OF POINTS (Explanation on Page 87) II NO. OF SAMPLE -- I·~;----Trueness to type and breed characteristics. :I.. Unifor,nity of Type . ........... 10 2 . Shape of Ears. .. . . .... . . 10 8. Length of Ea.·s ... .. . . ... 10 4. Oircwntference of Em·s. 5 5. Purity. (a) Kernel............... 5 (b) Cob... . ..... . .. ..• 5 MaturiLy and market condition. 6. ll:Catltritu.. .. .. .. .............. ;j 7. Ma"lel!'t Condition.... . ... . . . .... . 5 Yielding qualities and vitali ty. 8 . Ohara cfe.· of Ge,·"." ..... 10 9. Ii:e ,·neZ .. (a) Shape. . ... . .......... . 5 (b) Uniformity.. ........ .. .. 5 10. Butts..... . ....... .. . .... .. .. .. .. 5 11. Tips . .. ........ . . . 5 12. Space . . . . . ... . ..... ... .. . .... . 5 13. Size of Coli......... . ... . .. . .. ... 10 Total. ... . ............ ... ....... . .. 100 4;, 10 45 VARIETY STANDARDS Yellow Length Circumference Reid's Yellow Dent ................. .. ..... , .... ... 10 to 10% ........ ........ . 7~ to 7~ Learning . .... ......... . . ....... . ........ . ........ . . . 10 to 10~ .. .. . ..... .. . ..... 7~ to 7~ St. Charles yellow ... . .... . ................ .. ..... . . 10~ to 11 .... ... . .. .. . ....... 7~ to 794 Cartner ............ . .. ....... .... ... .. ..... ... ........ 9 to 9~ . .. . ... . ....... .. 7~ to 7% White Boone County White .... . .... . . . . ............ .. .... IO~ to 11 . ......... .. . . .... 7~ to 7~ St. Charles White ... . . ..... .. .. . ....... '" ... ... . 10 to 10~ .... .. ... .... 7M to Johnson County White ... . . ...... . ....... .. ...... 10~ to 11... ... . ..... . .... 7;(, to 7~~ Silvermine . . ... .... .. .. . .. , . .. . .. .. ... . .... ...... . . 9t09~ . .. . .. ............. 7t07!4 Commercial White.... ........... . ... .. ..... .. .... IO~ to 11. . .. .. . . .. .. .... . .7% to 7~ General Entries.... .. ... .. .. . .... .. .... . ... .. ..... 9~ to 10~ . . 714 to 7f.( NAME ...... ..................................... .. ... .. ...... .. ... .. ....... .. ... ....... ... .. ........... .. .. ..... .......... .. ..... .. DATE .. .. ................ .. ............. .. .. . SELECTING AND JUDGING CORN. HOW TO APPLY THE POINTS OF THE SCORE CARD :1. Unifo.omity of Type (:10)-For each ear differing in shape, col~r or in-dentation from the type of the variety cut from one-quarter to one point. 2. Shape of Edr (iO)-Ears should be as nearly cylindrical as possible and have straight rows runningirom butt to tip. These characteristics usually indicate a high per cent of corn to cob, and a large number of kernels of uniform size and shape for plant-ing. Cut one-fourth to one point for each ear that tapers too greatly. 3. Len(Jth ()f Ears (10) - Add togetber the deficiency and excess in length of all ears not conforming to the standard for the ,-ariety, and for each inch thus obtained cut one point. Should the deficiency exceed 10 inches a cut of two points for each additional inch shall be made on the total score. 4. G-i1'c1tmfe"ence of E,w8 (5)-The deficiency and excess in circumference (one· thIrd the distaoce from butt to tip) of all ears not ~onforming to the standard of the varie-ty, shall be added together and for each inch thus obtained a cut of one-half point shall be made. 5. P1trity--1(crnel (l»--Kernels should be free from mixture with corn of opposite color. Mixtu're in yellow corn is shown on caps of kernels; in white corn on the sides. For each mixed kernel in an exhibit cut one-fourth point. PnrU!/-Cob (5)-Cobs should be of one color; in yellow corn, red; and in white corn, white. (Except St. Charles White.) For pink cobs cut one·fourth to one-half point for each according to shade. One cob of the opposite color shall bar the exhibit. 6. Mat',w'ity (5)-Ears should be well matured, heavy. dry, and the kernels bright and firm on the cob. For immature or loose ears cut not to exceed one-half point. 7. Ma.·"et CondUion (5)-Ears should be fr~e from injury or decayed spots. Ears showing rotten spots or injuries should be cut one-fourth to one half point. A dead ear should be cut fh-e points. Two dead ears shall bar the exhibit. S. Cha.·acter of the Gfp.1·m (to)-Germ should be full, smooth, bright, not blistered, shriveled or discolored . When broken should show a fresb, oily appearance. Cut not more than one point for each ear showing inferior germs. 9. Kernel .• -Shape (5)-The ideal kernel is slightly wedged shape but not pointed, the length of which is approximately one and one-half times as great as the width of the widest part. For each ear showing kernels of poor shape, cut from one-fourth to one-half point. 1(ernels-Tlnlf,n-m'ity (5l-The kernels from the different ears should be of the same size .and shape; also those in each ear should be uniform. For each ear having kernels which differ in shape or size from the majority cut from one-fourth to one-half point. For each ear with very irregular kernels cut from one-half to one point. 10. Butts (5)-An ideal butt on an ear of corn should be well rounded out, with regular rows of deep kernels, solidly and evenly compacted around a clean cup-shaped cavity. Cut not to exceed one-half point for each defective butt. 11. T'ips (5)-The tips should be filled out to tbe end with deep kernels in regular rows. The ideal tip is completely covered, but if kernels are deep and regular to end of cob no cut need be made. Cut not to exceed one-half point for each defective tip. 12. Spaoe (5)-Ther'e should be no open space between rows, nor between the ker-nels in the row, either at the crown or at the cob. Cut not to exceed one-half point for each ear seriously defective in this respect. 13. S'l:oe of 001> (10)-The cob should be medium in size with diameter about twice the depth of the kernel. Too large a cob gives a low per cent of corn, while too small a cob does not favor a large yield per acre. Cut from one-half to one point for each ear markedly out of proportion in this respect. NOTE: The score card is designed for scoring ten ear samples. To score single · ears cut in tenths of points l\ccording to judgment. 8:-; l\ [I SSOU 1~1 A(:H1CULTU I{AL E :\ I ' I ': I { I ~ II ' NT ST.\TION, C I I{CUL\ I{ 45. SELECTION OF CORN FOR SHOW. A t fair~ a nd (Jth~ r places wh ere Carll i ~ show n for prellliums it is c l1 st'omar.\' to sholl' ten ea rs toget he r ;].s a samplc. amI consequ entl y ill judg illg ~ lI e h sa mpl es the te n ca r s n1l1!'t be co ns ider ed as a whole ins tead of a single ear. In s~ lec ting a sample it is lI'e ll to fir M se lect twenty- fi ve o r thirty of th e best ~a rs to he found a nd b y them out 0 11 a boa rd s ide by s ide. T hen go over them w ith the character ist ics of;]. good ~ar in mind a nc1 stud y them ca refully. A n hOllr spent ill pi ck-ing out th e good a nd had points o f th e var io us ea r ~ o ll e :1 fte r a no th er w ill help ve ry Illuch in d ~c i d ing whi ch ca rs lI' ill make t h ~ hest ~xhi hit. F ina ll y pick ou t t he Illos t id ea l ea r in t he lnt and li se it a~ a s tand ard in se lec t ing t he u th er nin e. n car in mind that on ~ of the most im-portan t points abn ut a good sample of cu rn i ~ w hat is kn own as IIniform ity o f type. Ily thi , is mea n t th at eve ry ca r sholild look as ncar a li ke ev~ ry ot h ~r car as poss ibl e. T he)' should a ll have the sam e shack of colur, the sa m e s ize, t he sam c s h ap~. the sam~ culor Ilf cohs, the sa me cha racter o f ke rn els, whether ro ug h nr smooth, wide or na rrow a nd be t rll e tn the type of the vari e ty. l':ach ca r sho uld mea~­lire up tu the sco re-card s tandard fo r the va r iety in hut h length a nd cir-c l1m fe rence a nd should Ibe so lid , well l1l atured, 'fr ee fr o1l1 da1l1 aged gra ins a nd a ll indi ca t i on ~ o f mi x ture. K eep in mind the id ea of "1l1atc<' a s if se l ~c ting a shuw team o f dri vi ng horses or a here! of cattle or o th er stock. S hu ll' co rn is seed corn a nd a ll of the cars should be a li ke so tha l the pro dll ct m ay be unifor m. For the purpose uf dete rmining- t h ~ d epth a nd shape o f kern els, the characte r of the ge rm :i iJ( l the size o f t he cob, two kern els Illay he n :muve<! f rom the sam e s id ~ of the ca r bu t no o ther k ern els should l ll~ mi ss ing . AN EXCELLENT SAMPLE OF CORN . Champion Ten Ears of Yellow Corn. National Corn Exposition, Omaha , 1909 , Gra nd Champion Ten Ears Missouri State Corn Show, 1909. 

Selecting and judging corn

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