292 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



The Potchefstroom Pearl Mealie. 



The variety of maize now well known as the '* Potchefstroom 

 Pearl," is growing in popularity and each year sees an increasing 

 demand for the seed. It has been found suitable to a wide range of 

 soils and is now grown in most districts of the Transvaal, in the 

 moist, low country as well as in the drier parts. In the course of its 

 supervision of the trials with this variety carried out by farmers, 

 the Potchefstroom School of Agriculture has received reports show- 

 ing that on a large number of farms the average jaeld has ranged 

 between 10 and 12 bags per acre, while in some instances yields of 

 from 15 to 25 bags per acre have been obtained. 



In view, therefore, of the favour it is finding with maize growers, 

 it is interesting to learn from Mr. Sellschop, Assistant Experimen- 

 talist at the school, that the Potchefstroom Pearl has been developed 

 from a single ear — which may be regarded as a sport — selected in 

 1909 at the Potchefstroom School of Agriculture from a plot of the 

 Champion White Pearl, a rough medium-early variety introduced 

 from the United States. The progenj^ of this single ear was care- 

 fully observed each year, and selections continued to be made, until 

 in 1913 a field crop was grown. After this date it appeared on the 

 market as the Potchefstroom Pearl. The aim kept in view when the 

 annual selectio'.is were made was the production of a variety of white 

 maize possessing the following features : — 



(a) Quality equal to that of the Hickory King for export 



purposes., 

 (6) A smaller proportion of waste for milling purposes than 



Hickory King, 

 (c) A good cropper during normal and droughty seasons with 

 better resistance to drought than Hickory King. 



During the experimental stages this variety was considered a 

 medium early, but it is now classed as a medium to late, and ripens 

 in from 145 to 150 days, according to the season, and usually is 

 earlier than Hickory King. It is robust and vigorous, and reaches a 

 height normally of about 7 feet 6 inches. 



The ears have twelve rows which are very regular. The 

 length is 9 inches, the circumference at butt 7 to 1\ inches and the 

 tip 6 to Q\ inches. The butts and tips are well covered with grain. 

 The ear is cylindrical and compact with narrow sulci ; show ears 

 generally weigh from 14 to 15 ounces. 



The grain is broad, flat, and thicker than Hickory King. 

 It is a little longer than broad, and should show good width. It is 

 slightly wedge-shaped and is crease-dented. The grain may show 

 wrinkles in the crease, but should not be rough. The colour is 

 pearl white; the bushel weight averages 64 lb. 



As shown by recent milling tests, it makes meal of the first 

 quality. A prominent miller who kindly carried out the tests reported 

 as follows : — 



" This maize grinds well, producing an excellent granulated 



meal with good flavour and suitable for table use. The meal 



yielded 54 per cent, flour of good colour and fine even grain. 



" The contents of the seed do not appear to be of so horny a 



nature as m some white flat varieties and therefore more friable." 



The effort to produce a maize with the characteristics kept in 

 view appears to have been attended with gratifying success. 



