406 THE lAi: Minis' HANDBOOK. 



much. The oars are borne somewhat high on the stalk, but the stoutness of 

 the stalk usually resists the force of Strong wind. The ears are often held 

 erect owing to the short thick shank, but they are mostly resistant to the 

 weather owing to the good husk covering. 



The ears are cylindrical in shape, 9 to 11 inches long and 7| to 8 inches in 

 circumference. The dent is medium to rough. The rows number usually 

 fourteen or sixteen, with a medium furrow between them. 



The grain is fairly thick, broad, and deep, of bright medium red colour. 



Learning. 



This is one of the most popular varieties in the .State. It takes about 

 five months to mature on the North Coast, where it is largely grown 

 for early planting. It has a fine stalk, which grows about 8 to 10 feet high 

 on the North Coast. The ears are borne on moderately long shanks, which 

 cause the ears to droop at maturity. 



The ears are S to 9 inches long and 6^ to 1\ inches in circumference,. 

 mostly somewhat tapering, with a smooth to slightly rough dent. The 

 number of rows varies from eighteen to twenty-four, and curving or dropping 

 of the rows is not uncommon. The rows are usually irregular at the tip. 

 There is a medium to small furrow between the rows, and the grain is very 

 tight on the cob. 



The grain is rather thick, narrow, and deep, with a dark amber colour and 

 a small bright yellow cap. 



Manning or Macleay White. 



This variety, which is synonymous with Giant White, is a fairly large- 

 grained, white sort that produces characteristically short cobs with about 12 

 vows of grain and with a fairly open space between the rows. It has earned 

 a reputation for doing well under the somewhat drier conditions on the 

 Upper Manning and Upper Macleay Rivers. 



Manning Silvermine. 



This is a variety of midseason maturity which has come into prominence as 

 the result of yield contests on the Manning River. Its origin is unknown, 

 but its characters place it almost definitely as a cross between Iowa Silver- 

 mine and Manning W T hite. The ears are of fab- length, averaging 9 inches 

 or more, with about fourteen rows of grain well separated by fairly wide 

 furrows. It differs in this respect from Iowa Silvermine, which has a larger 

 number of rows with narrower furrows. The grain is fairly narrow, like Iowa 

 Silvermine, and very deep, being well over half an inch, and has a rough, 

 pinched dent, with a tendency to " beak." It does not appear to have yielded 

 well so far outside the Manning River. The maturity is about the same as 

 Manning White, about three weeks later than the true Iowa Silvermine. 



Ulmarra Whitecap. 



A local variety largely grown en the Clarence River, particularly round 

 Ulmarra. As the name implies it is a maize of crossbred origin not vet 

 fixed as to colour, having mostly a yellow grain with a pale white' cap. It is 

 a very late tall growing maize with large cobs. The grain is very deep, of 

 generally pale yellow colour (though it is being improved in this respect ro a 

 ghter yellow), rather soft and starchy, with a rough pinched dent. It has 

 een yielding well also on other parts of the North Coast. 



