16 



THE VEGETABLES OF NEW YORK 



shank size, ear shape, kernel shape and color, season, 

 and natural climatic adaptability were indicated in the 

 race description. In addition to the general separa- 

 tion according to races, each class was further divided 

 into smaller groups based on cob and kernel color. 



In 1886, Sturtevant's basis for race distinction was 

 primarily based on kernel shape, namely, broader than 

 deep, broad as deep, and deeper than broad. Each 

 group was further classified into tribes designated by the 

 Roman numerals I, II, and III, which had as their 

 distinguishing features various ear conformations, 

 namely, cylindrical, tapering, and fusiform. Other 

 features of the classification remained the same. 



With slight changes the same method was continued 

 in his work published with the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture in 1899. At that time the terms 

 race and tribe were discontinued and that of sub-groups 

 substituted. The divisions of sub-groups had as their 

 basis many variations of ear conformation and therefore 

 greater opportunity for segregation was made available. 



Burrill and McCluer, working at the Illinois Experi- 

 ment Station, made three studies of sweet corn, the 

 results of which were published as bulletins of that sta- 

 tion. The first two, published in 1888 and 1890, 

 respectively, had as the basis of classification the time 

 required to reach edible maturity. Three classes, 

 viz., early, medium, and late, were established, each 

 of which was further segregated according to color of 

 dry kernel into yellow, white, or colored other than 

 yellow. The last study, which appeared in 1891, was 

 identical with the previous ones as to classes with the 

 exception of having an additional segregation based on 

 the number of rows per ear. All varieties were accord- 

 ingly classified as having either eight rows or more than 

 eight. 



The most recent classification of sweet corn was 

 written by Byron D. Halsted and his associates at the 

 New Jersey State Experiment Station in 1904. This 

 study was based on the several characteristics of dry 

 ears. The varieties were separated into three major 

 divisions, namely, " (1) Those with the kernels of the 

 common amber white color; (2) those of various other 

 colors, and (3) those flint corns which on account of 

 their earliness and productiveness are much grown for 

 market purposes." The first and largest of these groups 

 was segregated into the following classes: Distinctness of 

 rows; cob color; number of rows; season; ear size and 

 shape; and kernel size, shape, and wrinkling. The 

 basis of classification of the other two major divisions, 

 which included relatively few varieties, was determined 

 according to kernel color and number of rows. This 

 treatment of sweet corn classification proved to be the 

 most detailed one yet proposed. Its limitations must 

 be realized, however, since the work was based on only 

 one season's results. No information relative to vegeta- 

 tive growth or that of ears in the edible milk stage was 

 included. Since all factors should be taken into con- 

 sideration for a systematic classification, this crop, at 

 its best, is none too stable to be successfully adapted 

 to such a study. 



No attempt is made in this publication to develop 

 a detailed classification or key for the identification of 

 varieties. Since the crop is largely cross fertilized, the 

 average in any one plant or ear character over a period 

 of years tends to shift slightly. It is also obvious that 

 environmental factors, such as soil fertility, heat, 

 moisture, and geographical location, have considerable 

 influence on such characters as plant height, vigor, 

 days to maturity, wrinkling, and ear size. The large 

 increase in the number of varieties and selections, as 

 well as the newly developed and ever-increasing list 

 of hybrid-inbreds and top crosses, have made the pos- 

 sibility of developing a specific classification even more 

 remote. 



In this study the arrangement of varieties is based 

 primarily on color of the edible kernel. The names which 

 constitute the list of those to be described or mentioned 

 historically are divided into three sections, each presented 

 in alphabetical order. The first group includes those 

 sweet corns (Zea mays rugosa) possessing white kernels 

 in the milk or boiling stage. Although a few varieties 

 in this class, such as Black Mexican, Catawba, and 

 Red Cory, have kernels that do not remain very long 

 in the white stage, they may be considered in this group 

 as the kernels are still white when in prime condition 

 for consumption. The second group includes those 

 varieties having yellow kernels at the milk or boiling 

 stage; and the third, those varieties that are not true 

 sweet corns (wrinkled seed) but which are well suited 

 for growing in certain agricultural regions where they 

 are gathered for eating when the kernels are in the milk. 

 The latter group includes both white- and yellow- 

 kerneled varieties distributed among the flint, dent, and 

 flour forms. 



In order to compile material on the histories of 

 the varieties, it has been necessary to seek information 

 from a large number of individuals. This information 

 has been freely forthcoming and has greatly facilitated 

 the accumulation of facts concerning the originators 

 and introducers of many earlier varieties. Without 

 this patient cooperation it is certain that much of the 

 material presented here would have remained unearthed. 

 The previously named seed organizations, together 

 with the following, have cooperated to the fullest extent 

 with the authors in furnishing both information and seed 

 for trial: D. Landreth Seed Co., Bristol, Pennsylvania; 

 W. Atlee Burpee Co., Doy lest own, Pennsylvania; S. D. 

 Woodruff & Sons, Orange, Connecticut; J. C. Robinson 

 Seed Co., Waterloo, Nebraska; Western Seed and 

 Irrigation Co., Fremont, Nebraska; and many others. 

 The authors extend sincere thanks to individuals in 

 the above-mentioned organizations, to many other 

 individuals of the seed trade, and to co-workers at other 

 institutions who remain unnamed because of lack of 

 space. 



A supplementary list of little known varieties is 

 included on page 95. This group consists of varieties 

 that were in existence a very short time, reliable records 

 of which have not been available. 



