515 
is described as cylindrical or tapering very slightly at lower third. 
Since my description of Canada corn in 1884, as strictly of a cylin- : 
drical type, I have noted that I have observed among speci- 
mens of this type from northern localities some tapering ears. I 
have not sufficient data for generalization on this point, but it sug- 
gests itself that in any variety grown near its northern limit we 
should expect this variation to occur, a variation not incident to 
_ the variety, but to be ascribed to the accidental circumstance of 
harvest. Thus in the Black Mexican sweet, whose type of ears 
is cylindrical throughout, we often find belated ears which are dis- 
tinctly tapering. This apparent change of type, as between nor- 
mal and belated ears, is especially evident in the sweet corn, and 
has worked much confusion in the attempts at nomenclature. 
We observe that our Squaw flint has various colored kernels 
on the cob. I readily pick out one dingy white, three shades of 
_ yellow, three shades of light purple, and two shades of blue. 
This mixture of colors is also to be noticed in the Mandan soft 
corns of Michigan and the Zuni soft corns of New Mexico, as also 
in others. Blue corn from Hanover, N. H., planted in 1884, 
yielded a crop described as copper-yellow, with some blue and 
_ Slate-colored kernels, and many red-striped kernels. Whether 
these distinctly colored kernels arise through cross-fertilization or 
are a variety character can perhaps be determined by the planting 
of single kernels. It is possible that the colors from each seed 
come pure, and ‘that the mixture is the result of current cross- 
fertilization between varieties. I have not the data for an answer. 
_Inmy previous paper I have discussed current fertilization be- 
_ tween species. Here I may be permitted to offer evidence of 
Current fertilization between varieties as well. The experiment 
i was with named varieties of flint corn, which, as experience has 
Shown, would have yielded in all probability single colors had 
_ they been planted apart. As it was, these were planted subject — 
_ to crossing from very numerous varieties of all the species. The 
_ Colors grown together were white, yellow, red and purple pops ; 
é white, yellow, copper-red, purple and purple-brown flints; white, 
_ Ted and yellow dents; slate, pink, black, yellow and white softs ; 
and white, amber and black sweets. The results noted for these 
flint corns were as below: ae ee. 
