ORIGIN, CLASSIFICATION, VARIETIES OF CORN 181 



to an ear, 14 to 18 being the most common. This is the 

 type commonly cultivated throughout the cotton-belt and 

 in fact throughout the entire United States excepting 

 in the extreme northeastern section where the short 

 growing season makes necessary the growth of flint 

 corns. 



222. Zea Mays amylacea, the soft corns. Charac- 

 terized by the absence of corneous material in the endo- 

 sperm. The ear and kernels are somewhat similar in shape 

 to the flint corns. There is no indentation. The soft 

 corns seem to prefer the warm dry climates, being grown 



FIG. 34. A good ear of dent corn; variety, Woodburn White dent. 



largely in Mexico and adjacent regions. This type was 

 extensively grown by the North American Indians, be- 

 cause it was more easily crushed between two rocks and 

 thus made into flour. 



223. Zea Mays saccharata, the sweet corns (Fig. 35). 

 Characterized by the translucent, horny appearance of 

 the kernels and their wrinkled, shriveled condition. It is 

 thought that the latter character is the result of the rapid 

 conversion of the starch into sugar. In outline the grains 

 are usually broadly wedge-shaped with rounded summit. 

 Sweet corn is well known as a garden crop and in some 

 sections of the United States it furnishes the basis of 



