MAIZE, 83 



consequently development, is retarded and will naturally take 

 longer than when grown during the hotter months when opti- 

 mum conditions of light and temperature prevail. 



2. The nature of the plant food available. A super-abun- 

 dance of nitrogen will delay maturity, while a high supply of 

 phosphates will hasten ripening. 



3. Altitude. The higher the altitude the shorter the period 

 of maturity. 



Date of Planting. — The date of the commencement of 

 the seasonal rains naturally will often govern the period during 

 which crops may be grown; consequently, while the conditions 

 of temperature and light, might be fully met in some parts, 

 because of the late commencement of the rainy season, early 

 varieties must necessarily be grown. 



The following classification of the varieties according to 

 the period required for maturity must be, on account of what 

 has just been stated, an approximate one : — 



(1) Very Late Varieties. — These take more or less five 

 months to mature. 



(a) Natal White Horsetooth. 



(b) Natal Yellow Horsetooth. 



(c) Ladysmith White. 



(d) Salisbury White. 



(e) Brazilian Flour. 



(f) Boone County. 



(g) German Yehow. 

 (h) Hickory King. 



(2) Late Varieties. — These take approximately 140 to 150 

 days. 



(a) Hickory Horsetooth (Texas Hickory). 



(b) Hickory Louisiana. 



(c) Golden Beauty. 



(d) Yellow Hogan. 



(e) Eureka. 



(f) Potchefstroom Pearl. 



(3) Medium Varieties. — This class requires 120 to 140 

 days. 



(a) Iowa Silver Mine. 



(b) Chester County Mammoth. 



(c) Palin's Cornflake (Eeid's Yellow Dent). 



(d) Natal 8-row. 



(e) Yellow Cango. 



