44 



CORN 



FIG. 16. Coyote corn, a form found 

 growing wild in Mexico. Has also been 

 produced artificially by crossing teosinte 

 and corn. (U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture.) 



The word corn is used in Europe 

 for all cereals, as wheat and barley, 

 and the name " Indian corn " 

 serves to distinguish maize from 

 the other grains. In the United 

 States, the name corn is correct and 

 has attained legal standing. 



Classification of Corn. There 

 are six principal types of corn. 

 These types are pop-corn, flint corn, 

 dent corn, soft corn, sweet corn, and 

 pod corn (Figs. 17 and 18). The 

 classification is based principally 

 on the character of the kernel. 

 Pop-corn is very hard and flinty 

 in character; the flint corn kernel 

 is similar, but larger, and contains 

 some soft starch in the center ; the 

 dent corn kernel is about one-half 

 hard and one-half soft starch, while 

 the soft corn is entirely soft starch. 

 Of course, there are intermediate 

 stages between each class, so that 

 practically a perfect series is found, 

 from the hard, flinty pop-corn to 

 the soft, flour corn. Growers, how- 

 ever, have usually selected those 

 named above for the distinct types, 

 so there are not many of the inter- 

 mediate kinds in cultivation. 



Sweet corn and pod corn may be 

 variations from any of the above 

 four types. Sweet corn is any kind 

 that lacks the factor for converting 

 its sugars to starches, so it stores its 

 kernels with sugar-like compounds. 

 The pod corn may be any of the 



