th is sometimes recurved. One variety (the rugosa of Bonafous) has
its seeds curiously wrinkled, giving to the whole ear a singular
appearance. Another variety (the cymosa of Bon.) carries its ears so
crowded together that it is called _mais a bouquet_. The seeds of some
varieties contain much glucose instead of starch. Male flowers
sometimes appear amongst the female flowers, and Mr. J. Scott has
lately observed the rarer case of female flowers on a true male
panicle, and likewise hermaphrodite flowers.[572] Azara describes[573]
a variety in Paraguay the grains of which are very tender, and he
states that several varieties are fitted for being cooked in various
ways. The varieties also differ greatly in precocity, and have
different powers of resisting dryness and the action of violent
wind.[574] Some of the foregoing differences would certainly be
considered of specific value with plants in a state of nature.

Le Comte Re states that the grains of all the varieties which he
cultivated ultimately assumed a yellow colour. But Bonafous[575] found
that most of those which he sowed for ten consecutive years kept true
to their proper tints; and he adds that in the valleys of the Pyrenees
and on the plains of Piedmont a white maize has been cultivated for
more than a century, and has undergone no change.

The tall kinds grown in southern latitudes, and therefore exposed to
great heat, require from six to seven months to ripen their seed;
whereas the dwarf kinds, grown in northern and colder climates, require
only from {322} three to four months.[576] Peter Kalm,[577] who
particularly attended to this plant, says, that in the United States,
in proceeding from south to north, the plants steadily diminish in
bulk. Seeds brought from lat. 37 deg. in Virginia, and sown in lat. 43 deg.-44 deg.
in New England, produce plants which will not ripen their seed, or
ripen them with the utmost difficulty. So it is with seed carried from
New England to lat. 45 deg.-47 deg. in Canada. By taking great care at first,
the southern kinds after some years' culture ripen their seed perfectly
in their northern homes, so that this is an analogous case with that of
the conversion of summer into winter wheat, and conversely. When tall
and dwarf maize are planted together, the dwarf kinds are in full
flower before the