180 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



kernel. Plants of flint corn 

 vary in height from 4 to 9 feet. 

 The ears are from 6 to 14 

 inches long with from 8 to 16 

 rows of kernels, 8 rows being 

 the most common. The kernels 

 of most varieties are either 

 white or golden orange in color, 

 hard, smooth and somewhat 

 oval shaped. Flint varieties 

 are adapted to regions with 

 short growing seasons in which 

 the dent varieties will not ma- 

 ture. 



221. Zea Mays indentata, 

 the dent corns (Fig. 34).- 

 In this group the corneous en- 

 dosperm occurs at the sides of 

 the kernel, the starchy reserve 

 food extending to the summit. 

 As the kernel matures the soft 

 starchy part dries and shrinks, 

 forming the characteristic in- 

 dentation in the top of the ker- 

 nel. In the flint corns 'the 

 occurrence of the corneous en- 

 dosperm over the top of the 

 kernel, as well as at the sides, 

 prevents the formation of an 

 indentation. In dent corns the 



P lant VarieS in hei ^ ht fr m 5 



to 18 feet; the ears are from 

 6 to 12 inches long, having from 8 to 24 rows of kernels 



FIG. 33. A good ear of the 



variety ' 



