Early 20th Century Corn Seed Grader

 This corn seed grader has no clear marks that would enable us to identify a manufacturer. This grader, however, still played an important role on the farm, essentially performing the same task as the nearby Hero corn grader. If a farmer wished to plant a consistent and healthy corn crop, he or she needed to make sure the corn seeds were the same size and shape. If kernels that were too large or too round were placed into the corn planter's seed boxes, they may not pass through the planter's holes and they may clog the planter's holes or cause other problems during planting. If broken or misshapen kernels were placed into the planter's seed boxes, they might pass through the planter's holes but they may not grow or they may produce small or misshapen ears. By using a grader, farmers increased their odds of planting healthy corn seeds without serious issues.