BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION 37 



very shallow, containing very little white starch and inaturing in a 

 short time. There are generally eight rows to the cob, though some 

 varieties have twelve. The stover is more valuable than that of dent 

 corn because it lacks woodiness. 



IV. ZEA INDENTATA. — The Dent Corns. A species-group 

 recognized by the presence of corneous endosperm at the sides of the 

 kernel, the starchy endosperm reaching to the summit. By the drying 

 and shrinkage of the starchy matter, the summit of the kernel is 

 drawn in, or together, and indented in various forms. The ears are 

 much larger and have more rows than flint corn. The kernels are 

 deeper, less glassy, with sharper corners, and more angular in shape. 

 The dent corn is the corn of the corn belt, and the corn of commerce. 



V. ZEA AMYLACEA.— The Soft Corns. This species-group is 

 at once recognized by the absence of corneous endosperm. Through 

 the uniformity of the shrinkage in ripening there is usually no inden- 

 tation, although this occasionally occurs. In the southern regions this 

 corn is grown almost exclusively. This is the mummy corn of Chile 

 and Peru. 



VI. ZEA SACCHARATA.— The Sweet Corns. A well defined 

 species-group characterized by the translucent, horny appearance of 

 the kernels and their more crinkled, wrinkled, or shriveled condition. 

 The first sweet corn cultivated in America was secured from the Sus- 

 quehanna Indians in 1779, by Captain Richard Begnall, who accom- 

 panied General Sullivan on his trip to subdue the Six Nations. 



VII. ZEA AMYLEA SACCHARATA.— The Starchy Sweet 

 Corns. The upper half of kernel is horny and transparent, the lower 

 part, starchy. It is of little importance. 



Zea canina (Watson) sometimes known as Maiz de Coyoto, or a 

 wild corn, is a hybrid form from fourth or fifth generation of a cross 

 between Teosinte and Black Mexican Corn. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CORN 



Indian Corn is an annual, herbaceous plant, belonging to the fam- 

 ily of grasses (Gramineae). The botanical name (Zea mays) is 

 derived from the Greek word, "Zao," meaning "to live," while "mays" 

 is believed to come from the Livonic word "Mayse," meaning "bread, 

 staff of life." 



PLANT STRUCTURE. Many minute cells compose the body of 

 a plant. These cells vary in shape and size in different parts of the 



