Page 166

Sixth Anmnua Report of the
breeds having a particular color are easy to distinguish between
as Boone County White from Reid's Yellow Dent, or either of
these raccs from the Cal co or Strawberry Dent. When one
wishes to distinguish between breeds of the same color it is more
difficult, and it is only by actual experience in handling and
studying the markings that one can become proficient. The
markings of pure breeds are quite distinct as the breeder work-
ing for improvement has been trying to make prominent one
or more desirable characteristics. This is plainly noticeable
in the Reid's Yellow Dent and the Leaming, two of the pure
yellow breeds of Illinois. These varieties differ in shade of color,
the Reid's being a pale yellow while the Leaming is more highly
colored, approaching an orange color. In other characteristics
the Reid's Yellow Dent has a cylindrical ear and furrows run-
ning from butt to tip, while the Leaming has more of a tapering
ear and occas onally drops one or more furrows at the middle of
the ear. Different seed coats are allowable in the Reid's Yellow
Dent, which may be either rough or smooth with a variation in
the indentation from a round dimple dent to a wide, narrow dent.
The Learning has a roughened seed coat which is characteristic
of the breed. The breeds of the white corn like the yellow have
certa'n characteristics peculiar to each, and are readily distin-
guishaed after an acquaintance is formed.
The corn breeders of Wisconsin by becoming acquainted with
the desired characteristics of seed corn will work with a com-
mon interest of producing and improving these desired qualities
in the different breeds of corn that are to become standard va-
rieties in various portions of the state. By several hundred
working with the same purpose in view a breed of corn will be
bred having the characteristics which will be known on account
of those similar traits and the more nearly the corn conforms
to this type the higher the marking can be given to it in uni-
formity and breed characteristics.
CORN JUDGING. LESSON II.
Shape of Ear, Cob and Kernels.
In judging a sample of ten ears of corn after considering
trueness to type and breed characteristics we next examine
celsely the shape of the ear. Ten points are allowed if the ears
166