Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 223, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1911 — SELECTING AND PREPARING EXHIBITS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SELECTING AND PREPARING EXHIBITS

By G. L. CHRISTIE, Superintendent.

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Preparations are already under way for corn shows tn all parts of Indiana Farmers will be called upon to make exhibits and tn demonstrate their power in selecting a good ear. Corn that will win tn Indiana Shows must be selected according to details already established. When selecting a sample of com it must be clearly understood that the beat ears for show purposes are also the best for seed. Every competent Judge should place his awards upon samples of corn that.

Fig. 1. A Prine Sample. if used for seed, will produce a crop of the largest yield and the bust quality. In order to meet these te* quirementa it will be necessary to study the ear in every detail, firing attention to those qualities of maturity, also of ear. quality of grain, purity, proportion of grain to cob and vitality that make for a good sample. Grooming of Exhibits. In preparing an exhibit for a show, It is allowable and perfectly proper Cor the exhibitor to groom the ears so they will present the best possible appearance. AH pieces of husks, silks and the shanks should be carefully re jnoved. It Is not allowable, however, to mutilate the ear in any way. Ears with

the protruding, tip removed are given the full cut on the assumption that the tip was very poor or it would not

oeen cm oil. Mixoa Kernels should never be removed and substituted with kernels of the proper color. Expert Judges can usually detect these changes and a full cut for color on that ear should be made. The risk of being discovered is too

Fig. 3. Another Undesirable Package. ■ ■ • ", great to warrant any tampering with the ears to bo exhibited. Shipping of Exhibits. Exhibits of corn should never be shipped or sent to any exhibition m a basket or bag, as there is always -great danger of damage in careless handling. Ears injured by breaking or having kernels knocked off through careless methods of shipping, have caused many a good sample of corn to be turned down by the judge. The judge is governed by a strict rule on missing kernels and he cannot be asked to allow for accidents other than in exceptional cases. Danger of Injury can be avoided by carefully wrapping each ear in paper or other protection and packing firmly in shipping box. Disposition of Exhibits. In recent corn shows much dissatisfaction has come through the fact

that those who conduct the show or donate the premiums, claim the corn exhibited. The' average corn grower who breeds up a good strain of corn, and spends his time in selecting from his entire lot of seed the best ten ears, cannot afford to give this corn for any premium offered at the average coria. show. In the second place, corn shows are held with corn improvement in view, and no action can be taken by organizations or individuals that hold corn shows that will mean more tn the line of direct corn improvement than to' encourage exhibitors to take their corn home, plant it and continue to Improve by selection. This point should receive the serious consideration of all committees in charge of a corn show.

Fig. 2. A Common but Undesirable Way of Transporting Show Corn.

Fig. 4. Ears Properly Wrapped for Shipment.