^ STOKES SEED FARMS COMPANY MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY jgj fe 



SWEET CORN 



(Zea mays var. saccharata) 



HISTORY — Probably a native of Peru, Darwin having found heads of 

 Maize embedded in the Peruvian Coast 85 feet above the present sea level. 

 Botanists universally conceded that corn originated in America and as its 

 close relation, teosinte, is indigenous to Mexico, some have placed it there 

 rather than farther south. In 1914 Dr. F. H. Knowlton came on a fossilized 

 ear of corn in Kuzco, Peru, thus giving us tangible evidence of the geologic 

 existence of the species. It is one of the first evidences of vegetables being 

 transferred from prehistoric to geological time, possibly taking it back a 

 hundred thousand years. The type of the fossil ear has many of the character- 

 istics essential to the domestic varieties still being grovm in Peru and Bolivia. 

 The name corn was given it by the North American Indians. The reference 

 to corn amongst the Egyptians of Biblical times was not corn as we know it, 

 but some other grain, possibly wheat. Indian corn, however, was found under 

 a comparatively high state of cultivation on the discovery of the New World. 

 The first variety of sweet corn, under cultivation, was reported in tlie region 

 of Plymouth, Mass., where it had come from the Susquehanna Indians in 

 1779. According to Schenck, there were two varieties of sweet corn in 1854. 

 Stowell's Evergreen was offered by Thorburn in 1861 and Golden Bantam 

 was listed by Gregory as Golden Sweet "several years" prior to 1873. We 

 have the word of Dr. W. W. Tracy on tliese two latter points. 



No. 238— Early Malcolm 



One of the Earliest Sweet Corns. New 



Days to Maturity, 55. We are indebted to Prof. Arthur J. Logsdail, of 

 the Central Experimental Farms of the Dominion Government, Ottawa, 

 for this new variety, Early Malcolm, which is herewith offered in the 

 United States for the first time. We do so only after the most careful 

 tests in our 1919 trial ground, which have thoroughly convinced us that 

 Early Malcolm will be extremely valuable to American planters. Early 

 Malcolm is a type bred sweet corn originating from the Early Malakoff, 

 which was brought to Canada many years ago from Russia. There is 

 now little similarity between the original Malakoff and Early Malcolm. 

 The latter has been grown with excellent satisfaction for a number of 

 years past by the various growers who produced it in an experimental 

 way for the Dominion Government, and has found considerable favor 

 among growers in the Prairie Provinces. Early Malcolm will open the 

 season for sweet corn two weeks ahead of any standard variety offered in 

 this country at the present time. Many seedsmen claim that Golden 

 Bantam will mature in sixty days, but according to our own experimental 

 work here, it will not mature before seventy days. Even the old Extra 

 Early Adams, which is a field corn and not a sweet corn, but which, 

 unfortunately, is offered on the early markets, requires seventy days for 

 maturity. In our opinion, the sooner truck growers give up such vege- 

 tables which are grown for their appearance only and not for their edible 

 qualities, the sooner will vegetables become truly popular the country 

 over. 



Early Malcolm produces a slender stalk of three and one-half feet, the 

 leaves are very small, the ears are borne fifteen inches from the ground 

 and will average six and one-half inches in length. They will contain 

 from eight to ten straight rows. Planted May 10th, the ears should be 

 ready for table use by July 5th. The variety is high in sugar content 

 and is delicious to the taste. The dry seed is wrinkled and transparent. 

 For cultivation in the home garden and for market gardeners and truckers 

 catering to a critical trade, we believe Early Malcolm will immediately 

 find a place of its own. From the experience of others, including the 

 experiments of the late Mr. Peter Henderson, it seems quite necessary to 

 import this corn annually from the Far North, for otherwise the extreme earliness which we now are able to show would undoubtedly 

 disappear. Our supply of Early Malcolm this year is, necessarily, somewhat limited and we would particularly_advise those who are 

 anxious to try it out to send orders in for it at an early date. Pkt. 20c, Y 2 pt. 30c, pt. 50c, qt. 85c, Y 2 pk. $3.00, postpaid. 



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EARLY MALCOLM (Natural Si»e) 



Replantings of Golden Bantam will give you this delicious corn all season 



