CORN. 33 
6. The sweet corns ate characterized by translucent, horny 
kernels and their more or less crinkled, wrinkled or shrivelled con- 
dition. These corns are extensively grown for canning, especially in 
the eastern parts of North America. 
7. The starchy-sweet corns have the lower part of the kernel 
starchy, the upper part half-horny and translucent. Little is known 
about this group. 
Agricultural value: When Columbus landed in the West 
Indies, he was presented with a kind of bread made from a grain 
which the natives called ‘‘mahiz.’”” From this word is derived the 
English maize, under which name the plant is known in Europe. 
Columbus took corn home with him, but outside of Spain and 
Portugal the plant was but slowly appreciated in Europe. It is 
now grown there, especially in Italy, where corn porridge (Polenta) 
is the working man’s common food, in Spain, where cakes of corn 
meal (tortillas) are of great importance, and in the countries along 
the lower course of the Danube. Latterly it has been grown ex- 
tensively in Europe, East India and Africa. Its cultivation in 
Europe, Asia or Africa, however, cannot be compared with its cul- 
tivation in America. In South and Central America and in the 
‘United States it is grown for both grain and fodder. Its importance 
as a forage plant increases northwards with latitude; along the 
northern limits of the corn belt it is grown principally for that pur- 
pose. 
Fodder: Corn is commonly fed green as a supplement to pasture 
in the late summer and autumn. It is liked by all kinds of stock, 
but for soiling it is especially valuable for cattle. It is sometimes 
cut green and cured into dry fodder, but it is retentive of moisture 
and difficult to store for winter feeding. 
When grown for husking, the cured fodder, after the ripened 
grain is removed, is hard and woody. When cut short for feeding, 
moistened and left in a pile until fermentation starts, dry corn stover 
becomes more succulent, is wholesome, and is a cheap, bulky food 
for store cattle. It is, however, deficient in feeding value when 
compared with corn cut about two weeks earlier and made into 
ensilage with the grain. 
In Canada, corn is grown as an ensilage crop almost to the ex- 
clusion of all others. Even along the northern limits of the corn belt 
the early dwarf flint varieties, such as the common Eight-rowed 
Yellow, will yield a larger food value per acre than any other forage 
533343 
