With a view of writing accurate descriptions and forming a key 

 for the identification of the different varieties, detailed observations 

 were taken on the various parts of the plant, namely the stalk, leaves, 

 ears, shank husks, tassel, and grain, but all the white varieties were 

 found to be so mixed that it was impossible to write down anything 

 accurate or definite at the present time. The work has therefore 

 been postponed until further experiments have been carried out. 



The Safra and Siwi are orange in colour, but there seemed to 

 be no difference between them. 



The grains are small and undented. 



The ears are also small, with twelve close-fitting rows of grain, 

 the average weight being 100 to 115 grammes. 



When the ears of the various white varieties were put in heaps, it 

 was impossible to see any marked difference between them. 



The average Neb el Gamal ear is larger and has more rows of grain 

 than the other varieties and the average Baladi ear is made up of 

 undented grain, but beyond that it is impossible to say what the 

 differences are, especially as each variety contains ears of all sizes 

 and descriptions. 



With a view of breeding one or more distinct and pure types of 

 maize, as many different ears as possible were picked out from the 

 various varieties. 



Each different ear has been numbered, and has had an accurate 

 description written of it. The seed will be sown separately this year 

 to ascertain if it breeds true to its various characters. When several 

 pure strains have been established, the yielding capacity and quality 

 of the grain will be determined, so that only the best strains shall 

 be cultivated. 



