2 BULLETIN 925, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. 
Brachysm and true dwarfing, or nanism, are variations which 
have recurred in maize in widely divergent and wholly independent 
stocks. In addition to the case of brachysm here described, Emerson 
(6) records the origin of a dwarf which has a brachytic stalk, short 
broad leaves, staminate flowers scattered throughout the pistillate 
inflorescence, few branches in the male inflorescence, and it sheds little, 
if any, pollen (PL II). This variation appeared simultaneously in 
three progenies grown from self-pollinated ears. Two of these 
progenies were closely related, but the third had an entirely different 
ancestry. A third independent origin of this anther-ear dwarf was 
reported by Montgomery (14), who received the seed ear from C. P. 
Hartley. 
A fourth independent origin of this same peculiar variation is 
reported by East and Hays (5), who found it in a commercial strain 
of the Stowell's Evergreen variety of sweet corn. While the dwarf 
found by Emerson and that of East and Hays have not been com- 
pared by crossing, there can be little doubt that the three variations 
involve a similar genetic change. 
Emerson (7) also records the origin and inheritance of still another 
type of dwarf which, in addition to reduced stature, produces most 
of the seeds in the terminal inflorescence. This variation has been 
designated " tassel ear." 
Hartley (9) records the origin of a brachytic dwarf, the leaves of 
which were shorter and broader than those of the parental variety. 
When the dwarf plants were crossed among themselves they were 
found to breed true. 
Gernert (8) found a dwarf plant in a plat of Learning Yellow 
Dent. The plant was less than one-third the height of normal plants 
of the parental variety, but produced as many nodes. The leaves 
were as long as those of the variety mentioned, which would seem to 
establish it as a true case of brachysm. The plant produced no ear, 
but was used as the male parent in crosses with plants of normal 
stature. There was no report on the progeny of these crosses. 
In addition to the brachytic variation to be discussed later, other 
brachytic plants have appeared in two instances in our breeding 
block,' but, contrary to the usual behavior, the brachysm in these 
cases did not behave as a simple Mendelian character. The inherit- 
ance of these variations is considered briefly on pages 6-7. 
ORIGIN AND DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIATION. 
The brachytic strain of maize under consideration arose in a 
hybrid between the Algerian pop-corn and the Chinese waxy varie- 
