428 CORN 



with its width and often the germ extends almost to the back side. 

 Silver Mine is properly of a creamy white color, with a medium 

 pinched dent. However, some breeders select a shallow kernel with a 

 heavy crease dent. The deep grain and small cob in Silver Mine, to- 

 gether give it a high shelling percentage, averaging 88 to 89 per cent. 

 This deep kernel is, however, very seldom starchy, being horny almost 

 to the crown. Starchy crowns are pale white and lose the strength of 

 appearance found in the cream color. 



Adaptability. It is claimed by its distributors that the Sil- 

 ver Mine is adapted to a wider range of climate and soil than any 

 other corn offered on the market. This claim seems very true because 

 it is capable of growing on especially poor soils. As it has a tendency 

 toward grain rather than fodder production, the plant food in the soil 

 goes directly to feeding the ear. The fact that this corn matures in 

 from 100 to 105 days accounts for its forging northward on the richer 

 soils where previously only very early shallow grained varieties were 

 grown. 



CONTEMPORARY BREEDERS. F. A. Warner, manager of the 

 Sibley Estate, Sibley, Illinois, has bred the Silver Mine corn for a 

 number of years. His type is somewhat larger than that of Iowa and 

 is coarser in the cob and later in maturing. 



In Iowa, M. S. Nelson, of Goldfield, has grown this variety in the 

 northern section of the state. J. H. Petty, of Elliott, and W. A. Hook, 

 of Packwood, have grown a large type quite extensively in the south- 

 ern counties. The latter has tried a few ears in the test plots. 



BOONE COUNTY WHITE 



HISTORY. This variety was originated by Mr. James Riley, of 

 Boone County, Indiana, in 1876. In that year he selected what he 

 considered a desirable type from a large, coarse corn grown in his 

 county, known as the White Mastodon. He planted the selected seed 

 in an isolated field and developed it by selection without crossing with 

 any other varieties. The barren stalks were removed before they pro- 

 duced pollen. After several years of such careful work he developed 

 a new type of corn which he named after his home county. 



BREED CHARACTERISTICS.— Stalk. Boone County White is 

 a vigorous grower and requires a strong soil. The stalk is rank, with 

 heavy joints and short internodes. Although not suckering extremely, 

 the leaf expanse is large. 



