FLINT CORN 



51 



at maturity, making an indentation which distinguishes 

 dent corn from other types. This is the most important 

 type of corn; probably 90 per cent of the total corn crop 

 of the world is of this class. The characters which make 

 it more valuable than other types are that (1) it yields 

 more; (2) it does not produce many 

 suckers or tillers; (3) it is easily 

 husked; and (4) it is comparatively 

 soft and easy for animals to masti- 

 cate. Generally speaking, it is 

 larger and later than flint corn, 

 though there are small, early-matur- 

 ing varieties of the dent type. Ears 

 of dent corn may vary in size from 

 4J/2 to 10 inches in diameter and 

 from 6 to 12 inches in length. 



54. Flint Corn. Flint corn ranks 

 next in importance to the dent type. 

 The crown of the kernel as well as 

 the sides is covered with a hard, 

 horny part which does not shrink, or 

 at least shrinks evenly, at maturity. 

 This gives each kernel a hard, 

 smooth, flinty appearance, to which 

 the name of the type is due. Ears 

 of flint corn are usually longer in 

 proportion to size than are ears of 

 dent corn. There are fewer rows of 

 kernels on the ears, the furrows between the rows are 

 usually wider, and the kernels are comparatively shallow. 

 It is very prolific in the production of suckers or stools, mak- 

 ing it quite valuable as a fodder crop, but it does not yield as 

 much grain as most of the varieties of the dent type. The 

 ears have a larger proportion of cob to corn than is found in 



Fig. 12. Ear of flint corn. 



