the first two categories, since the third has already been 
discussed by Merrill and will undoubtedly receive addi- 
tional attention from others who are better qualified than 
we to evaluate it. 
The Botanical Evidence 
The botanical evidence may in turn also be considered 
under three categories: (a) that the Assamese maize is 
unique and is related only to archaeological maize in 
America; (b) that the present distribution of Races A 
and C can be explained only in terms of a pre-Columbian 
diffusion of one of them; (c) that Assamese maize re- 
sembles sorghum. 
Five varieties of maize from Assam are described. The 
following ‘‘unusual’’ characters are said to typify one or 
more of these varieties. 
1. Uniformly green leaves, culms, silks and anthers. 
2. Slender pendent tassel branches. 
Straw-yellow endosperm; dull bluish-red aleurone. 
Small isodiametrical kernels. 
5. Many short internodes; lack of vegetative vigor. 
6. Upright twisted tassel branches; short silks. 
7. Tassel partly enclosed in a spathe-like cluster of 
leaves. 
8. A distinct bloom on the leaves and culm.’ 
9. Waxy pollen and endosperm. 
These characteristics, although not common, are never- 
theless well-known to those familiar with the great di- 
versity of maize in Latin America. Separately most of 
them are widely distributed not only in South America, 
but also in Central America and Mexico. Even in com- 
? This character was not specifically included in their list, but is 
mentioned separately as one of the characteristics of the variety Late 
Sidewise. 
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