DESCRIPTIONS OF VARIETIES 



45 



Burpee in 1904. It was introduced as Howling Mob in 

 1905 and sold as a novelty. 



Eighty -eight days were required for this variety to 

 produce edible ears at Geneva. This was 4 days later 

 than Kendel's Early Giant, about the same season as 

 Crosby, and 6 days earlier than Delicious. The plants 

 are slightly taller than those of Kendel's Early Giant, 

 are heavier, and have tassels that are slightly longer 

 and more bushy. The ears possess husks that are longer 

 and more tightly wrapped, while the husked ears are 

 1 to 2 inches longer, much more tapering and thicker 

 at the base. Howling Mob has been used extensively 

 by market gardeners throughout the East and Middle 

 West. For a midseason white variety, there is none 

 more popular. 



Plant moderately tall, 6-7 feet; stalks moderately heavy and 

 straight; nodes 10-12, exposed and somewhat prominent; intemodes 

 heavily streaked with dark red on exposed surfaces. Brace roots 

 present and complete on one node. Tillers moderately many, 

 slightly shorter than central stalk. Leaves moderately long and 

 medium broad. 32-34 x 3 1 £—4 inches; sheath shorter than internode. 

 Tassel moderately long and medium heavy, 18-20 inches; terminal 

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

 present and crowded; bracts and anthers variable in color; 64-65 

 days to anthesis. 



Ears borne at 5th and 6th nodes, often two per stalk. Shank 

 moderately long. 4-8 inches. Husk leaves many, long and heavy. 

 Husks decidedly many, moderately heavy, medium long and 

 rather tightly wrapped. Husked ear moderately long and moder- 

 ately plump, 8-9 x l 3 4-2 inches, slightly tapering; base slightly 

 enlarged and compressed; tip conical and exposed; rows 12-16, 

 usually regular and straight, somewhat irregular at the base. 



Kernels at milk stage white, rather narrow and shallow; 

 at dry stage dull white, medium size; medium width and length 

 but quite thick, .96 x .88 x .40 cm. (132 seeds per oz.); roughly 

 triangular in shape; crown slightly rounded; surface slightly rough 

 and rather finely wrinkled, portions almost pebbled; set moderately 

 tight on cob. 



Improved Giant. Refs. 193, 353, 518, 522, 533. 

 Syns. Early Giant, Giant, Improved Early Giant, 

 Maule's Improved Giant. 



Wm. Henry Maule introduced this variety in 

 1901 as one of the largest sweet corn sorts. It origi- 

 nated with " one of the most successful market gardeners 

 in the Northwest," but no information is available as to 

 its exact progenitor. 



At the time of the introduction, Improved Giant 

 apparently lacked the height that present stocks possess, 

 since reports indicate " the plants to be comparatively 

 short, but so thick and strong, they will stand up against 

 storms and rains." 



Edible ears were produced at Geneva in 94 days, 

 which was 10 days later than Kendel's Early Giant, 

 about in season with Early Evergreen, and 5 days 

 earlier than Long Island Beauty. The plants were 

 much heavier and taller than those of Kendel's Early 

 Giant, more like those of Favorite, Long Island Beauty, 

 and Late Mammoth. 



Plant tall, 8-8 L 2 feet; nodes 12-14, slightly exposed; tassels 

 long, coarse and heavy, 20-22 inches. Ears are borne on the 

 4th to 5th nodes, one and two ears with an occasional nubbin 

 present. Husked ears long and moderately plump, 9-10 x ljg— 2 

 inches, very slightly tapering; tip abruptly conical, often capped: 

 rows 14-16, straight and regular; kernels at milk stage white; 



at dry stage opalescent white, longer than wide, rather thick, 

 1.1 x .90 x .41 cm., triangular in shape; abundantly wrinkled. 



Independence. Refs. 142, 345, 469, 481, 533. Syns. 

 Fourth of July, Market Gardeners Extra Early. 



John A. Salzer Seed Co., La Crosse, Wisconsin, first 

 offered this variety in 1905 and it has proved to be well 

 adapted to growing conditions as found in the Mississippi 

 valley. The seed came originally from Connecticut. 

 Stocks as grown at Geneva have not been uniform in 

 type. 



Eighty-two days were required for this variety to 

 produce edible ears. This was 2 weeks earlier than Best 

 of All, 6 days earlier than White Cory, and 2 days 

 later than Mammoth White Cory. The plants are the 

 same height as those of Best of All, less inclined to tiller, 

 and have tassels that are longer and decidedly more 

 slender and feathery. The husked ears are somewhat 

 shorter than those of Best of All and equal to those of 

 White Cory. This is another of the second early, 

 slender, 8-rowed varieties. It is not widely grown and its 

 acquaintance is limited. As with most white varieties, 

 the decline in popularity of the type has been responsible 

 for its present position, although previously this slender 

 and attractive ear would have much in its favor. 



Plant moderate'y tall, 5 1 £—6 J ■_> feet; stalks moderately slender 

 and slightly zigzag; nodes 8-9, exposed, prominent; intemodes 

 streaked with red on exposed portions. Brace roots present, very 

 slender and not useful. Tillers few, much shorter than central 

 stalk. Leaves medium long and medium broad, 30—32 x 3}.j-3?4 

 inches, occasionally colored on the margin; sheath shorter than 

 internode. Tassel moderately long, very slender and feathery, 

 18-20 inches; terminal spike drooping; lateral spikelets distinctly 

 drooping, many, moderately long, somewhat multi-branched, 

 crowded; bracts pale green, rather heavily striped with light red; 

 anthers mostly pale reddish brown (terra cotta); 58-60 days to 

 anthesis. 



Ears borne on 3rd and 4th nodes, often two ears per stalk, 

 one usually a nubbin. Shank extremely variable, usually 6—9 

 inches long, slender and brittle. Husks moderately few, long and 

 rather tightly wrapped. Silk rather scanty, long and uniformly 

 pale green in color. Husked ear medium long and slender, 

 7-8 x I s s-1? 2 inches, partly cylindrical and very slightly tapering; 

 base slightly enlarged and occasionally open; tip long, conical and 

 exposed; rows 8, straight, occasionally somewhat irregular at the 

 base, conveniently spaced around the cob. 



Kernels at milk stage white, moderately narrow and shallow; 

 at dry stage dull white, small, short, slightly wider than long, 

 .8 x 1.0 x .40 cm. (132 seeds per oz. I; short, broad oval in shape; 

 crown distinctly rounded; surface moderately but shallowly wrinkled; 

 set tightly on cob. 



Indiana Wonder. Refs. 156, 515, 533. Syn. Early 

 Indiana. 

 In 1899, Mr. James A. Everitt of Indianapolis, 

 Indiana, introduced this variety which originated in 

 the state of his residence. He took a keen pleasure 

 in popularizing improvements in farm crops and spent 

 a great deal of money advertising newer and better 

 varieties. Indiana Wonder, although never attaining 

 widespread attention, was reputed to have had much 

 in its favor. Reports indicate that the variety was 

 a strong and rapid grower, producing two and three 

 ears to the plant, which were nearly twice as large as 

 Adams Early, deep kerneled, and abundantly wrinkled 

 when dry. 



