CLASSItiCATlON OF MAIZE 



**^S 



lification certain. When the dry grain is exposed for a short 

 time to a high temperature, it explodes into a snow-white fluAy 

 palatable mass, the endosperm being everted about the embr}'o 

 and hull. This property of popping is connected with the den- 

 sity of the endosperm. A small amount of white endosperm 

 does not unfavorably affect popping, but if the white portion 

 is in excess, as in flint maize, the corneous portion explodes 

 without everting the endospenn. 



The varieties of pop maize may be divided into two groups, 

 rice and pearl, w^th the golden as a rather 

 distinct t}'pe of the pearl. The rice pop 

 has a very pointed grain at the top, with 

 a tendency to have the grains imbricated 

 instead of side by side and to have the 

 ears cone-shaped. In the pearl pop the 

 top of the grain is smooth and rounded ; 

 the grains are compactly arranged upon 

 the cob and are very dense and lus* 

 trous in appearance. The ears are cylin- 

 drical. 



The plant of pop maize is said to vary 

 with variet}^, climate and soil from eighteen 

 inches to t^velve feet ; the usual variation 

 being from five to seven feet. The ten- 

 one-third natural size; grain dency to bear many ears is strongly 



pearl variety, about natural ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ j^ ^^^^ g^^.^^, ^^ 



sports. The ears vary from one to eight 

 and a half inches; usually from four to six inches in length 

 and from one to one and a half inches in diameter. Variations 

 from eight to thirty rows are reported, with twelve to sixteen 

 rows the most common. An ordinary weight is from three to 

 four ounces per ear. 



The following table gives weight and dimensions of the grain 

 of four varieties of pop maize : 



% 



Pop maize: ear rice variety, 



