24 THE BOOK OF CORN 



climate by selection has done much to strengthen these 

 characteristics. It is no doubt the type from which 

 many varieties of yellow corn have been developed, as 

 most of the yellow varieties show some of the charac- 

 teristics of the Learning corn ; and when their history is 

 traced back they are usually found to have been devel- 

 oped from the Learning seed. The Learning variety is 

 of medium maturity, adapted to the central division of 

 Illinois. The three-quarters of a century of breeding 

 has fixed the following characteristics, and they can be 

 found strongly developed in strains bred by different 

 corn breeders, modified by the breeder in his selection 

 of seed. See Fig 7. 



Characteristics — 1, ear tapering; 2, circumference 

 7 inches, length 9.3 inches ; 3, kernels firm on cob and 

 mostly upright ; 4, number of rows 16 to 24, with a 

 tendency to drop rows about the middle of ear ; 5, space 

 between rows medium ; 6, kernels in distinct pairs of 

 rows, mixed at tip; 7, butt moderately rounded, 

 slightly compressed, with tendency to expand; 8, ker- 

 nels yellow, wedge-shape, with square-cut summits and 

 nearly straight edges, long dimpled to pinched dented ; 

 9, shank medium to large; 10, cob medium, red. 



BOONE COUNTY WHITE 



History — The Boone County White corn was orig- 

 inated by Mr James Riley of Boone county, In&ana. 

 Mr Riley began selection from a Targe, coarse variety of 

 corn grown in Boone county, commonly known as the 

 White Mastodon, in 1876. This White Mastodon seed 

 secured by Mr Riley was planted in a separate field 

 from other varieties, anrl has never been crossed, 

 being changed in type by selection. Mr Riley at- 

 tempted to remove the barren stalks by cutting out 

 such stalks before they produced pollen. After several 



