BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. 19 
kernels in most varieties are quite wrinkled or 
twisted and are distinctly wedge shape. See ὦ 
in Fig. 3. 
Soft corn.—Excepting the germ the entire 
kernel is starchy and soft in character and has 
somewhat the form of the flints. This race is 
more commonly grown in the sub-tropical corn 
regions, as the far Southwest and in Mexico. 
This is the early form of corn as grown by the 
Indians. Seee in Fig. 3. 
- Pod corn.—Additional to the above another 
form is found, which is rather uncommon. Pod 
or husk corn is a variety in which each kernel 
is enclosed in a small husk, while the aggrega- 
tion of kernels, which may form a long or short 
ear, 1s enclosed in large external husks on a 
simple cob, as with common ears. Flint and 
dent corn may exist in this variety. Pod-corn 
seed when planted will usually give a crop of 
both podded and unpodded ears. 
Classified by seed.—Each known variety of 
Indian corn may be easily classified with one 
of the so-called races, according to its seed. 
However, if two or more races are grown near 
by there will no doubt be ears composed of a 
mixture of each class, especially if the flowers 
develop at the same time. 
