CHAP. 

 IV. 



1 1 2 MAIZE 



produce but one ear under ordinary conditions of culture ; 

 " no two-eared dent breed has ever been produced which has 

 become extensively grown or widely popular" . It seems reason- 

 able that it should be easier for a plant to develop one large 

 ear than two or more small ones, and it is better from the 

 farmer's point of view, for it costs less to harvest one good 



Fig. 57. — Maize plants developing two ears. 



ear than to pick two small ones from each plant. The mature 

 ear consists of a central pithy core, called the cob (Fig. 43) on 

 which the grains are borne. The ear varies in length from \ 

 an inch to 16 inches, but 4 to 9 inches is a usual range in early 

 and medium-maturing sorts, and 9 to 14 inches in the later 

 sorts, such as white Horsetooth. Occasionally we have an 



