Maize is a grass, and the Incans bred it for the seed/feed. The maize grass seed was produced on the tassle, the same way that orchard grass, or wheat, or Timothy produces a head. However, the grass seed was smaller, so the stalk had no trouble supporting the weight of the seed. Through excellent processes of nurturing and breeding, the incans were able to find those genetic mutations where the seed formed lower on the stalk, and the tassle supported the pollen. They did this by selecting only the biggest maize grass seeds to replant. By doing so, the plants had to adapt to the increasingly heavy seeds until finally the stalks became mutated and the seeds formed along the stalk, not on the tassle, or grain head. By then selecting only those seeds, they bred stronger and stronger versions of the maize which we now know as our traditional looking corn.
However, all corn, at one point in time all grew like heads of wheat on the tops of the stalks.
I'm sure it took the Incans hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of years to accomplish this. We have only known corn for the past 500 years or so. Only within the past 70 years or so were we able to increase our average bushel per acre yield from 35bu/a to 160 bu/a. At this rate, there might come a point 70-100 years from now, where we are harvesting corn cobs the size of our forearms, with a 700 bu/a average yield.
So, your corn is simply starting to revert back to it's original form through stress and probably a midlife crisis.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - History of the Field Marshall Tractor - by Anthony West. Any restorer who has some knowledge of turn of the century farm machinery, will recognize the name Lanz Bulldog!! This machine was to say the least unusual in its appearance. The huge flywheel and coffee percolator shaped exhaust. Along with square body lines and cylinder head protruding forward of the front axle. Would become the visual differentiation that people would quote to separate the Lanz from other period machines. The Marshall company based at the Briannia Works in Gainsborough
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1958 FORD RARE 4x4 801 TRACTOR, ELENCO/FRONT DRIVE, FRONTLOADER AND WEIGHTED REAR WHEELS, FIVE SPEED, LIVE PTO, GAS ENGINE, NEW REAR WHEELS AND TIRES, ENGINE RUNS.
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
