82 CHAPTER VI 



tions, by continued selection towards a certain ideal of enthu- 

 siastic growers, and by crossing. 



It IS only within recent years that the leading varieties 

 known in the Union to-day were introduced. Prior to 1899 

 flint varieties, e.g., Bothnia, were the predominant types grown, 

 and dent varieties in many sections were unknown. 



The chief dent varieties found in South Africa to-day 

 are : — 



PF/iiie. -Natal White Horsetooth, Ladysmith White, 

 Salisbury White, Hickory King, Hickory Horsetooth (Texas 

 Hickory), Hickory Louisiana, Boone County, Potchefstroom 

 Pearl and Iowa Silver Mine. 



Yelloio. Natal Yellow Horsetooth, Golden Beauty, Yellow 

 Hogan, Eureka, German Yellow, Chester County Mammoth, 

 Palm's Cornflake (selection of Peid's Y'ellow Dent), and King 

 of the Earlies (Wiggie). 



The following are the chief flint varieties : — 



Yellow. — Natal 8-row, Yellow Cango, Cincinnati (Boes- 

 man), Will's Gehu (Boesman). 



White. — Wliite Cango, American White Flint and Thor- 

 oughbred. 



Of the bread maize, the Brazilian flour and the Brood 

 mielie are the ones best known ; of sugar maize, Stowell's Ever- 

 green, Country Gentleman and Black Mexican, and of pop 

 maize, both the rice and pearl types are known. 



Varieties ditler markedly as regards soil and climatic re- 

 quirements. Iowa Silver Mine does better on relatively sandy 

 soils than most varieties, while Eureka seems to prefer the 

 heavier clay loams. Flint varieties are more successful at high 

 altitudes and in drier regions than dent varieties. Some of the 

 late maturing dent varieties naturally require a long growing 

 season and, incidentally, favourable conditions as regards soil 

 and moisture. From this it must be self-evident that no variety 

 can be expected to be the best variety in all sections of the 

 country. Failure to recognise the suitability of breeds for par- 

 ticular localities has been mainly responsible for a great deal of 

 indiilVrent production. 



Some varieties will mature in 80 days ; others take up to 

 200 days to reach maturity. Under our conditions the period 

 required varies from 90 to 160 days. The factors influencing 

 the length of period are : — 



1. The date of ])lanting. If planted late in the season the 

 growth of the crop will take place during the cooler weather, 



