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was brought from America in vessels which sailed into the Mediterranean Sea and landed in the various countries denoted. The climate on both sides of the Mediterranean is fairly well adapted to the growth of maize. The rapid introduction into. these countries of so striking a plant and its spread therefrom is not a matter of surprise.

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1. Maturity of plant silking: roasting ear; partly dented or glazed; dented or glazed; nearly ripe; ripe.

2. Height of plant: average of ten plants

feet

3. Proportion of ears: number of ears on one hundred stalks

4. Barren stalks: number in one hundred stalks

.

inches

5. Position of ear: pointing upward; horizontal; pointing downward.

6. Husks: adherent; medium; non-adherent.

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8. Length of shank: distance from node to base of ear,-average of ten plants

9. Circumference of stem: at middle of internode between second and third node from ground

10.

11.

Circumference of stem: at middle of internode below main ear
Number of leaves: average of ten plants

...

12. Average width of leaf blades: average of five plants 13. Average length of leaf blades: average of five plants 14. Length of tassel: average of ten plants

.

372. THE CHARACTERS OF THE GRAIN.—Give each student twenty-five to thirty grains each of five types of maize or five varieties of a single type. For Nos. 12 to 18, a number of grains should be soaked in hot water for thirty minutes, or in cold water for twenty-four hours. For taking measurements, furnish each student with a sheet of cross-section paper.

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(b) (b)

4. Thickness: ten average grains in duplicate (a)

5. Ratio of width to length: divide length of ten grains by width of ten grains (a) . . . (b).

6. Ratio of thickness to width: divide width of ten grains by thickness of ten

grains (a) . . (b)

7. Shape; flat; spheroidal; conical.

8. Shape (side view): cuneate wedge-shape; rounded-cuneate; truncate-cuneate; shoe-peg form; rectangular; rounded corners.

9. Summit: rostrate; mucronate; rounded; flat; dented.

IO.

When dented: dimple; long dimple; creased; pinched; ligulate.

II. Color: white; yellow; golden; red; purple.

12.

Place of color: endosperm; aleurone layer; hull.

13. Character of endosperm: corneous; partly corneous; farinaceous; glucose. 14. Proportion of corneous endosperm, if dent variety: large; medium; small. 15. Size of embryo: large; medium; small.

16. Sketch of cross-section: show arrangement to scale of embryo, glossy and white endosperm.

17. Sketch of transverse section: show arrangement to scale of embryo, glossy and white endosperm.

18. Sketch of lateral section: show arrangement to scale of embryo, glossy and white endosperm.

373. THE CHARACTERS OF THE EAR.-Give each student two or more ears of each of the five types of maize, or five different varieties of the same type. Ten ears of a given type or variety are none too many for a thorough study, but with larger classes it may be necessary to economize in material. Ears properly labeled. showing characters mentioned below, should be displayed for guidance of stu dents. (220)

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I. Color of grain: white; yellow; golden; red; purple.

2.

3.

Color of cob: white; light red; deep red.

Surface: smooth; medium; rough; very rough.

4. Sulci: absent; apparent; narrow; distinct; very distinct.

5. Pairs of rows: distichous; not distichous.

6. Number of rows: one-fourth length from butt

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;

from tip

7. Direction of rows: rectilinear; spiral to right; spiral to left; irregular.
8. Grains: very loose; loose; firm; mosaic-like.
Grains: upright; sloping; imbricated.

9.

10.

Ear: cylindrical; cylindraceous; slowly tapering; tapering; distinctly taper ing; flat.

II. Butt: even; shallow rounded; moderately rounded; deeply rounded.

12. Butt: depressed; compressed; depressed-rounded; depressed-compressed enlarged; expanded; open.

13. Tip: sides of cob exposed; end exposed; end covered; terminal grain. 14. Juncture of ear stalk: large; medium; small.

15. Length of ear (extreme length): (a)

(b)

16. Circumference of ear one-third distance from butt: (a)

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20.

21.

Circumference of cob one-third distance from butt: (a)
Ratio of circumference of cob to circumference of ear: (a)

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374 SCORE CARD FOR DENT MAIZE.1

Furnish each student with a sample consisting of ten ears of maize.

I. TRUENESS TO TYPE OR BREED CHARACTERISTICS, 10 POINTS.-The ten ears in the sample should possess similar or like characteristics, and should be true to the variety which they represent.

2. SHAPE OF EAR, 10 POINTS.-The shape of the ear should conform to the variety type. Ear should be full and strong in central portion and not taper too rapidly toward the tip.

3. PURITY (a) In GRAIN, 5 POINTS.-Color of grain should be true to variety and free from mixture. For one or two mixed grains, a cut of one-fourth point; for four or more mixed grains, a cut of one-half point should be made. Difference in shade of color must be scored according to variety characteristics.

(b) IN COB, 5 POINTS.-An ear with white cob in yellow maize or red cob in white maize, should be disqualified or marked zero. This mixture reduces the value of the maize for seed purposes, indicates lack of purity, and tends towards a too wide variation in time of maturity, size and shape of grains.

4. VITALITY OR SEED CONDITION, 10 POINTS.-Maize should be in good seed condition, being capable of producing strong, vigorous growth and yield.

5. TIPS, 5 POINTS.-The form of tip should be regular; grains near tip should be of regular shape and size. The proportion of tip covered or filled must be considered. Long pointed tips as well as short flattened or double tips are objectionable.

6. BUTTS, 5 POINTS.-The rows of grains should extend in regular order over the butt, leaving a deep depression when the shank is removed. Open and swelled butts, depressed and flat butts, with flattened glazed grains, are objectionable and must be cut according to the judgment of the scorer.

7. GRAINS (a) UNIFORMITY OF, 10 POINTS; (b) Shape of, 5 POINTS.-The grains should be uniform in shape and size, making it possible to secure uniformity in dropping with the planter, and consequently a good stand. The grains should also be not only uniform on individual ear, but uniform in color and true to variety type. The grains should be so shaped that their edges touch from tip to crown.

8. LENGTH OF EAR, 10 POINTS—The length of ear varies according to variety, type, and the characteristics sought for by individual breeders. Uniformity in length is to be sought for in a sample, and a sample having an even length of ears should score higher than one that varies, even if it be within the limits. Instructor will set limits for length of ears of sample according to variety, allowing a variation of one inch. The sum of the excesses and deficiencies in inches shall constitute a cut

in points.

9. CIRCUMFERence of Ear, 5 POINTS.-The circumference of the ear will vary according to the variety and the latitude. The circumference of the ear should be in symmetry with its length. An ear too great in circumference for its length is generally slow in maturing, and too frequently results in soft maize. Instructor will set limits for circumference of ears of sample according to variety, allowing a variation of one-half inch. The sum of the excesses and deficiencies in inches shall

1 The score card of the Iowa State College slightly modified. Iowa Bul. 77 (1904).

constitute a cut in points. Measure the circumference at one-third the distance from the butt to the tip of the ear.

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10. (a) FURROWS BETWEEN Rows, 5 POINTS. The furrows between the rows of grains should be of sufficient size to permit the maize to dry out readily, but not so large as to lose in proportion of grain to cɔb.

(b) SPACE BETWEEN TIPS Of Grains at COB, 5 POINTS.-This is objectionable, as it indicates immaturity, weak constitution and poor feeding value.

11. PROPORTION OF GRAIN TO COB, 10 POINTS.-The proportion of grain is determined by weight. Depth of grains, size of cob, maturity furrows and space at cob, all affect the proportion. In determining the proportion of grain to cob, weigh and shell every alternate ear in the exhibit. Weigh the grain and subtract from weight of ears, giving weight of grain; divide the weight of grain by the total weight of ears, which will give the per cent of grain. Per cent of grain should be from 86 to 87. For each per cent short of standard, a cut of one and one-half points should be made.

375. DETERMINATION OF COMMERCIAL GRADES OF MAIZE. - Give each student two to four pounds of maize of two or more unlike samples and have him determine the proper grade. (367)

(a) Per cent of water: grind a sufficient amount of maize into a coarse meal and determine per cent of water in thirty grams by drying to constant weight at 102° C.

(b) Color: determine percentage of color in 500 grains by count.

(c)

Damaged grains: determine percentage of rotten, moldy or otherwise unsound grains in 500 grains by count.

(d) Broken grains and dirt: determine on the basis of weights the percentage of all broken grains, meal, dirt, chaff and other foreign material in two or more pounds. 376. COLLATERAL READING.

Natural Distribution of Roots in Field Soils. By F. H. King. Ninth Ann. Rpt. of the Wis. Agr. Expt. Sta. (1892), pp. 112-120.

Varieties of Corn. By E. L. Sturtevant. U. S. Dept. of Agr., Office of Expt. Sta. Bul. 57.

Manual of Corn Judging. By A. D. Shamel. New York: Orange Judd Company (1903).

Xenia, or the Immediate Effect of Pollen in Maize. By H. J. Webber. U. S. Dept. of Agr., Div. Veg. Phys. and Path. Bul. 22 (1900).

Methods of Corn Breeding. By C. G. Hopkins. Ill. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 82 (1902). Selecting and Preparing Seed Corn. By P. G. Holden. Iowa Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 77 (1904).

The Maintenance of Fertility. By Charles E. Thorne.

110 (1899).

Ohio Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul.

Ten Years of Experiments in Corn Culture. By R. J. Redding. Ga. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 46 (1899), PP. 73-75.

Modern Silage Methods. The Silver Manufacturing Co., Salem, Ohio.

Maize.

Origin of Cultivated Plants. By Alphonse De Candolle.
D. Appleton & Co. (1902), pp. 387-397.

New York:

XVIII.

OATS.

1. STRUCTURE.

377. Relationships.-The tribe (Avenae) to which the oat (Avena sativa L.) belongs differs from the tribe (Hordeae) to which wheat, rye and barley belong, in having the inflorescence in panicles instead of in spikes, and in having a crooked awn on the back of the flowering glume, instead of a straight awn at the end. To this tribe belong few economic plants. Arrhenatherum avenaceum Beauv. is somewhat extensively cultivated in France under the name of Ray Grass. It is only sparingly cultivated in America under the name of Tall Oat Grass. Velvet Grass (Holcus lanatus L.) is also occasionally sown as a pasture grass.

378. The Plant.-The habit of growth of the roots is similar to that of wheat. The culms are somewhat larger in diameter and of rather softer tissue. Environment has a greater influence upon Nodes of oats: A, exterior view; B, crosslength of culm of oats than of section of straight culm; C, cross-section winter wheat and rye. Height of

A

C

showing that a culm after it has fallen

node.

becomes erect by the growth on its lower culm varies from two to five feet; side of the sheath node, not the culm probably the average height is three and a half feet. The leaves are more abundant, the blade broader, and the ligule more pronounced than in wheat.

The Ohio Station found during seven years an average of one

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