278 MAIZE 



CHAP. — Recognized by the indentation (or "dent") at the apex and 

 the presence of corneous (horny) endosperm at the sides of the 

 grain ; the starchy endosperm extends to the apex. The 

 horny endosperm varies in height and thickness in different 

 breeds ; this determines the character of the indentation, which 

 is caused by the drying and shrinkage of the " starchy " endo- 

 sperm at the summit of the grain, which is drawn in or 

 together, as the grain dries ; the horny endosperm is not 

 affected in this way, which accounts for the fact that the flint 

 breeds (in which there is no "starchy" endosperm at the 

 apex) do not develop a " dent ". 



The breeds of dent maize are far more numerous than those 

 of any other variety, and in the United States they are more 

 extensively grown than any others, furnishing nearly all of the 

 maize exported. 



Dent maize is known to have been grown in Peru in 1650, 

 and by some of the North American Indians in 1608. It is also 

 grown by the native tribes of Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil. 

 The earliest-maturing breeds can be cultivated as far north as 

 Ottawa, Canada (about 46" north latitude), but generally 

 speaking the dent breeds are not so well suited as the flints 

 to regions of short growing-season. 



232. Soft Maize {Zea Mays var. erythrolepis (Bonaf.) Alef.). 

 — This variety includes the flour corns or " bread mielies " and 

 is recognized by the absence of corneous endosperm. The 

 grain is soft, and although most of the breeds of soft maize 

 appear to have been grown in tropical America, the grain does 

 not keep well on account of susceptibility to weevil and grain- 

 moth ; it is therefore not well suited to cultivation in tropical 

 and sub-tropical countries. 



It is probably on this account that there are so few breeds of 

 soft maize ; Sturtevant describes only twenty-seven, some of 

 which appear to be merely colour forms of others. Soft maize 

 is used both for meal and for eating as " green mielies," but the 

 feeding value is poor ; both protein and fat-content are low. 

 Two breeds are occasionally grown in South Africa, both having 

 white grain, viz. South African Bread Mielie and Brazilian flour 

 corn. Tuscarora and Cuzco have been tested in the Transvaal 

 and abandoned ; red grains are met with in both of these 

 breeds. 



