EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 429 



DESCRIPTION OF MICHIGAN CORN VARIETIES 



In order to give definite information concerning varieties of known ex- 

 cellence as shown by variety tests, the men who developed these varie- 

 ties, or have grown them for a number of years, were requested to state 

 the methods followed in establishing their respective varieties. A brief 

 summary of the history of each variety is included with following 

 description : 



EARLY SILVER KING 



The Early Silver King is a white variety introduced into Michigan 

 from two sources; from northern Iowa, where it originated, and Wis- 

 consin, where it has been widely distributed after selection and adapta- 

 tion, as the Wisconsin No. 7. The ear is usually from S^A to 9l^ inches 

 in length and 6% to 7% inches in circumference. It ranges in season 

 from 100 to 130 days. Food products industries using corn pay a 

 premium for white corn. The following men who have been instrumental 

 in introducing this variety have given brief statements of source and 

 selection methods: 



Farley Bros., Albion, Calhoun county, secured seed of Silver King 

 seven years ago from northern Iowa. They followed hill selection and 

 saved the best type of ears for seed. The estimated maturity is 110 to 

 120 days on soils of variable Coloma loam. 



Mr. C. P. Milham, Kalamazoo, Mich., secured Wisconsin No. 7 strain 

 of Early Silver King from Wisconsin nine years ago. He has prac- 

 ticed field selection of ears on the stalk for his own seed and selected 

 for type from this field selected seed. 



His soil is mostly clay loam or sandy clay loam. The average lengtli 

 of season required for maturity for this strain of Wisconsin No. 7 is 

 110 to 125 days. 



Mr. I). A. Geddes, Swan Creek, SaginaAV county, secured Early Silver 

 King or Wisconsin No. 7 from Wisconsin nine years ago. It has been 

 his practice to always gather seed before corn was harvested, picking 

 the early maturing ears from hills containing 2 to 4 strong, well devel- 

 oped stalks, saving the ears that were 8 to 9 inches long, carrying 16 

 to 20 rows, with good length of kernel at the tip and butt, growing about 

 half way up the stalk, the ears drooping slightly so that rain would not 

 injure tip of ear. 



The soil is a clay loam. The estimated time for maturity is from 

 100 to 115 days. 



riCKETT YELLOW DENT 



The Pickett Yellow Dent is one of the oldest and best established 

 varieties of lower Michigan. The ear is cylindrical and slightly taper- 

 ing, measuring from 7 to 9 inches in length and QYz to 7i/^ inches in cir- 

 cumference. The number of rows vary from 16 to 20. The kernels are 

 medium to deep, compactly arranged on cob. Adapted strains of this 



