CHAPTER XIX. 



THE VARIETIES OF DENT CORN 



NOW PRINCIPALLY GROWN IN THE CORN BELT 



LEAMING. 



HISTORY. This is the oldest known variety of corn, having been 

 originated by Mr. J. S. Learning, near Wihuington, Ohio, in 1826. At 

 this time he began selecting seed from the ordinary yellow corn grown 

 in Hamilton County on the Little Miami bottoms. As soon as the 

 ripening of the husks indicated that the corn was beginning to mature, 

 he would go through the field, selecting an ear slightly tapering from 

 butt to tip, well filled at butt and tip, with straight rows, and ripening 

 in from 90 to no days. For 56 years he followed this careful system 

 of selection. His son and other breeders have continued his work. 



BREED CHARACTERISTICS.— Stalk. The Learning is not a 

 rank growing variety, being more of a producer of grain than stem. 

 It has very little tendency to sucker and does not remain green late 

 in the fall. 



LEAMING. 



Ear. The tapering ear of the Leaming is a most marked character- 

 istic. When allowed to do so without care in selection, the ears will 

 so become short with a flaring butt and a rapid, pointed taper from 

 shank to tip. Often a row or several rows will be lost near the tip. 

 The best breeders today are trying to hold the type full in the middle 

 with a gentle taper at the tip. Being a heavy ear, the shank will 



