,5 2 4 MAIZE 



CHAP, man and florist of Pretoria, is due the credit of what was pro- 

 VIL bably the first attempt to produce a distinctly South African 

 breed of sugar maize. In one of his early catalogues (un- 

 dated, but from internal evidence issued later than 27 Septem- 

 ber, 1904), he offers " Clark's Favourite" as a South African 

 production. 



275. Clark Favourite. — Mr. Clark issued the following 

 account in the catalogue referred to above : — 



" Sweet Corn : Clark's Favourite (Early Sugar Corn). — For 

 years I have been working to get a cross with our Bread 

 Mealie ; this I am pleased to say is a true cross with the Early 

 Cory and Bread Corn. Clark's Early Sugar Corn is not only 

 the earliest, but has a good-sized ear, white cob, very tender, 

 sweet and nutritious ; it also keeps a long time in good condi- 

 tion before hardening. In all-round good qualities it is the 

 finest of all Sweet Corns ; it grows to a medium height, and 

 the ears are formed low and two or three on each stock. This 

 is undoubtedly the most important Vegetable Novelty of this 

 year [1904-5]. Stock very limited." 



276. Arcadia Sugar-maize. — Fig. 123. In 1906 the 

 writer obtained a few white sugar grains from a cross between 

 Black Mexican^ and a Transvaal white flint; in the season 

 of 1907-8 these were propagated and bred true, producing 

 ears of white sugar maize, without any admixture of black. 

 The new breed has since been improved, and was distributed 

 in 191 i. It produces two good ears on a stalk ; the ears are 

 12-rowed ; planted on 20 August, 191 1, it flowered on 9 Nov- 

 ember ; ears were ready for boiling on 9 December, i.e. in 1 10 

 days ; it was ready to harvest for seed on 4 January, or 1 37 days 

 (Burtt-Davy, 8). Earlier-maturing strains producing larger 

 ears have since been produced (Fig. 123B). 



277. Claret Sugar. — Developed from a few grains selected 

 by the writer from a Black Mexican cross grown in his garden 

 in Arcadia, Pretoria. A dwarf, early-maturing sort, with 

 pale claret coloured grains. Planted 8 November, flowered 

 6 January, ready for eating 6 February, i.e. ninety days. It 

 seems likely that the red colour (an aleurone colour) was ob- 



1 Brought to South Africa in 19.03 by Miss Florence Bolton, from the farm 

 oi Mr. B. Maywardot Pescadero, California, U.S.A. 



