184 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



food value are lessened. (353) For silage, it is generally de 

 sirable to plant a variety virhich will develop a normal proportion 

 of ears and that will get as mature as it is possible for maize to 

 be when put in the silo. (349) 



250. Comparative Yield of Dent and Flint Maize. — Almost all 

 of the field maize of the United States, comparatively speaking, 

 is of the dent type. Flint maize requires a smaller number of 

 days to mature a crop ; hence it is used in the more northern 

 latitudes and at higher altitudes. It is the common field crop 

 of New England. Each of these types has its place, but wher- 

 ever the common varieties of dent maize will ripen flint maize 

 usually is not desirable. For example, at the Pennsylvania 

 Station eleven varieties of flint maize and fifteen varieties of 

 dent maize have been tested from one to three years. The 

 altitude is 1,200 feet; the season, therefore, is comparatively 

 cool and short, and not especially adapted to the growth of dent 

 varieties. The following table gives the yield of dry matter in 

 pounds from ears and stover : 



Flint Dent 



Ears . . . 1,750 3,012 



Stover . . 1,691 3»258 



Total . r 3,441 6,270 



