84 CHAPTER VI 



(f) American White Flint. 



(g) Cincinnati (Large Boesman). 



(4) Early Varieties. — Requiring from 90 to 120 clays. 



(a) White Cango. 



(b) Will's Gehu (Small Boesman). 



(c) King of the Earlies (Wiggie or Minnesota). 



(d) Brood Mielie. 



(e) Eural Thoroughbred. 



The very late varieties are not recommended for the high- 

 veld (altitude 5 ,000 feet and above) on account of the shortness 

 of the growing season. And while some of the late varieties, 

 if planted early, may be suitable in favourable seasons, gene- 

 rally speaking, the medium varieties are to be preferred, and 

 of these the flint breeds are to be recommended. 



On the middle veld (altitude 4,000 to 5,000 feet) the late 

 varieties are the most suitable, while on the lowveld (4,000 feet 

 and below), where the rainfall is sufficient, the very late varie- 

 ties are usually most productive ; while when the season is 

 shortened by the late commencement of rains, the late and even 

 the medium sorts may prove the best. 



The early varieties find their chief use as catch crops when 

 the main crop has failed through the ravages of cutworms or 

 stalkborers, destruction by hail and drought. In the drier 

 maize-growing areas these breeds are the most successful be- 

 cause of their early maturity, which makes them drought- 

 evading, especially the flints, on account of their low trans- 

 piration ratio and general drought resistant qualities. 



Climatic and Soil Eequirements. — "Maize is a sun-loving 

 crop of tropical origin, but is so flexible in its requirements and 

 so readily adapts itself to its surroundings that it is successfully 

 grown over wide climatic ranges. It does not mature, how- 

 ever, anywhere north of the 50th parallel, although it may be 

 grown for green fodder in favoured localities somewhat further 

 north. 



' ' The great maize regions of the world are areas of contin- 

 ental climate. Except where irrigation is practised, most 

 maize is grown in regions iiaving an annual rainfall of over 

 20 inches and a summer temperature averaging about 75°. A 

 comparatively small area of the earth's surface is devoted to the 

 intensive cultivation of this crop, as the optimum climatic con- 

 ditions for maize are found in only a few regions of the 

 world.'" 



