114 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



(3) Sweet 'corn may be known by its wrinkled, horny 

 grain, due to the presence of sugar in the endosperm, 

 and by the absence of floury white starch. The plant 

 is very small and bears many small ears, which mature early. 

 Sweet corn is generally grown in Southern gardens, but is 

 less productive here than in higher latitudes. 



(4) Pop corn may be recognized by the entire absence of 

 floury starch, the whole endosperm being compact and 

 horny. This compactness explains why the grain swells 

 or pops so completely. The plant is extremely small, the 

 ears numerous and of diminutive size, maturing early. 



(5) Soft corn bears a grain in which all of the endosperm 

 is soft and white. This is the original kind cultivated by 

 the Indians. It suited their needs by reason of the ease 

 with which it could be ground. It is not now cultivated to 

 any extent in the United States. The ears are small and 

 the grains usually small and rounded, without dents. 



(6) Pod corn is rather a curiosity than a race of any 

 value. Each single grain is inclosed in a small shuck, 

 while the whole ear or collection of grains is wrapped in an 

 outer shuck. This is probably nearer to the original form 

 of the plant than are any of the other races. 



103. Characters needed in Southern varieties. Varie- 

 ties of field corn in the South must be chosen within the 

 dent race. The primary consideration is a large yield of 

 grain per acre. Among the other desirable qualities of a 

 variety for the South are the following : 



(1) Medium or late maturity, in order that there may 

 be a maximum yield and to escape the great injury done 

 by grain weevils to the early varieties. 



(2) At least a medium degree of hardness of kernel to 



