BOTANICAL CHARACTERS 



their homology is clearly indicated by the fact that often a 

 diminutive leaf-blade, varying greatly in length, is developed 

 at the end of each sheath of the husk (Fig. 45). Sometimes 

 the husks are tightly wrapped around the ear ; in other cases 

 they are loose and baggy, giving a deceptive appearance of 

 size to what may be only a small or medium ear. 



In some cases the husks 

 entirely cover the ear, and even 

 extend a long way beyond it ; 

 in other cases they may be so 

 short that the tip of the ear 

 protrudes beyond them ; the 

 latter is an undesirable char- 

 acter, as it allows birds and 

 insects to damage a good deal 

 of the grain at the tip of the 

 ear (Fig. 164). 



83. The Mature Ear. — 

 The number of ears which a 

 maize plant can bear varies 

 considerably with the variety 

 and breed, and also varies 

 according to the richness or 

 poverty of the soil and length 

 of growing season. 



The tendency to produce 

 more than one fully developed 

 ear on a plant (Fig. 57) may 

 be seen in any maize field. 

 But it is not the usual thing, 

 in South Africa at least, for 

 more than one good ear (on 

 a dent breedj to develop fully 

 and to mature grain. Some 

 varieties naturally develop more ears; e.g. cases of ten 

 or more ears on a flint breed have been reported, and one 

 plant has been known to produce twenty-three ears ; pop- 

 corn has been known to produce twelve to nineteen ears ; 

 and six to fourteen have been reported for dent maize. But 

 Hunt (1) points out that in the United States, dent breeds 



CHAP. 

 IV. 



Fig. 56. — Secondary ear developing 

 from a node of the shank. 



