DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIETIES 



39 



featured it in catalog descriptions. It was supposed 

 to have come as the result of a cross between a late 

 and an early variety. The cob was white, ear 6 to 

 8 inches long, 8-rowed with very large white grains. 

 At the time of its introduction it was given as earlier 

 than Con - and Pride of America but 2 years later it 

 was listed as later than Cory, Fordhook Early or First 

 of All. 



Early Wonder. Refs. 231, 345. 348, 483. Syn. Extra 

 Early Wonder. 



I. N. Simon & Son. Philadelphia, introduced 

 Early Wonder in 1913 as a sweet corn which is " truly 

 a wonder." The name " Wonder " has been used 

 in connection with other sweet corns, among them 

 the New Early Wonder in 1910 by Henry Phillips, 

 Toledo, Ohio, and Early White Wonder in 1913 by A. C. 

 Kendel, Cleveland, Ohio. Comstock, Ferre & Co. have 

 a stock of Early Wonder which came to them along 

 with other material from the Thomas Griswold Co. 



The history of Early Wonder is unknown although 

 it is thought by some to have come as a selection from 

 Columbia. The plantings of this variety at Geneva 

 have been grown from seed from Simon and Comstock, 

 Ferre, so that the data for the description of Early 

 Wonder is based on these stocks. 



Eighty days were required for this variety to reach 

 edible maturity at Geneva. This was 3 days later 

 than Surprise, in season with Whipple's Early and 

 Mammoth White Cory, and 5 days later than Alpha. 

 The plants are 1 J £ feet taller than those of Surprise, 

 having tillers considerably taller in proportion to the 

 central stalk and more variable in bract and anther 

 color. The husked ears are 1 to 2 inches longer than those 

 of Surprise, slightly more conical and more often exposed 

 at the tip. Likewise the kernels at the dry stage are 

 somewhat longer in proportion to the width. This is 

 another one in the medium early class of white sweet 

 com that has been used in the market garden sections 

 of the East and Middlewest. 



Plant moderately tall, 6 feet; stalks moderately slender and 

 straight; nodes 8-9, exposed, prominent. Brace roots present, 

 moderately heavy, whorl nearly complete, somewhat useful. Tillers 

 few, equal in height to central stalk. Leaves moderately long and 

 medium broad, 32-34 x 3 3 4 ^ ] 2 inches; sheath shorter than inter- 

 node. Tassel medium long, 15—18 inches, slender; terminal spike 

 erect; lateral spikelets nearly erect, medium long, moderately many, 

 rather scattered, multi-branched; bracts and anthers variable; 

 60-62 days to anthesis. 



Ears borne at 3rd and 4th nodes, one and often two ears per 

 stalk, otherwise an occasional nubbin present. Shank medium 

 long, 4-5 inches, rather heavy. Husk leaves rather short and 

 heavy. Husks moderately many, heavy, medium length, rather 

 loosely wrapped and easily removed. Husked ear medium long 

 and moderately plump, 7-8 x l 3 4 -2 inches, slightly tapering, 

 attractive; base slightly enlarged; tip conical and very slightly 

 exposed; rows 10-12, moderately straight, slightly irregular at the 

 base, occasionally lost. 



Kernels at milk stage white, rather large, broad and medium 

 depth; at dry stage dull amber white, longer than wide, 1.17 x .94 

 x. 39 cm. 115 seeds per oz. ; triangular ; crown very slightly rounded : 

 surface shallowly and rather coarsely wrinkled; set moderately 

 tight on cob. 



Eastman's Early. Refs. 108, 238. Syn. Eastern Extra 



Early. 

 This variety was first offered by the Eastman Seed 

 Company, East Sumner, Maine, sometime prior to 1898. 

 A test of 41 varieties at the New Hampshire Experiment 

 Station substantiated the claim of the introducer as being 

 the earliest of any sweet corn. The strain was originated 

 by a Mr. Eastman of Maine. The ears were 6 to 7 

 inches long, 8 to 12 rows, slightly earlier than Peep 

 O'Day. It was very similar to First of All (Dreer). 



Egyptian. Refs. 22, 61, 73, 74, 75, 89, 91, 93, 121, 

 168, 214, 236, 238, 368, 397, 403, 405, 411, 412, 

 422, 423, 435, 464, 487, 503, 507, 508, 511, 512, 

 514, 515, 533, 535, 536, 537, 538, 545. Syns. 

 Early Egyptian, Egyptian Sugar, Egyptian Sweet, 

 Large Egyptian, New Egyptian, Washington, 

 Washington Market. 

 Whatever the origin of this sweet corn refer- 

 ences to early catalogs show that it was generally 

 carried by the larger seed houses beginning about 1880. 

 In 1883 both Gregory and Ferry considered it noteworthy 

 for productiveness and sweetness. Gregory gives the 

 credit for its introduction to a Mr. Hyde as it was once 

 known as Hyde's Egyptian. Descriptions show a late 

 variety maturing with Stowell's Evergreen and resem- 

 bling that variety in many respects but with kernels 

 wider and shallower. 



At Geneva 98 days were required for edible ears 

 to be produced. This was in season with Stowell's 

 Evergreen, 3 days later than Henderson and 1 day 

 later than New Wonder. The plants are much like 

 those of New Wonder. The tassel bracts are decidedly 

 less striped with red, often entirely absent in comparison 

 to those of Stowell's Evergreen, while the general foliage 

 color is somewhat lighter green. The ears are borne 

 slightly lower on the stalk than those of New Wonder, 

 and are decidedly less numerous. The husks are longer, 

 but just as tightly wrapped and difficult to remove. 

 The husked ears are about the same length but decidedly 

 more plump. In the dry stage the kernels are set more 

 loosely on the cob. This old variety was used princi- 

 pally as a canning sort, and as such was widely grown, 

 particularly in the East, the Middlewest, and in the 

 region of the Great Lakes. 



The description to follow is based on data obtained 

 from the few stocks still available. Consequently 

 some deviation may exist in comparison to the original 

 Egyptian. 



Plant tall, 7-8 feet; stalks heavy and straight; nodes 12-14, 

 nearly covered, not very prominent. Brace roots present, heavy, 

 complete on one node and part of another, useful. Tillers few to 

 none, slightly shorter than central stalk, leaves long and medium 

 width, 34-36 x 3-^- inches; sheath equal to and occasionally longer 

 than internode. Tassel moderately long, 18-20 inches, coarse 

 and heavy, occasionally colored at the base; terminal spike erect, 

 lateral spikelets moderately erect to slightly drooping, medium 

 length, rather numerous and crowded; bracts green, very slight to 

 no red stripe present; anthers buff deep colonial buff to chamois ; 

 74—76 days to anthesis. 



Ears borne high, at 6th and 7th nodes, one and often two ears 

 per stalk with an occasional nubbin also present. Husk leaves few, 



