A group of early lines (earliest Gaspé from R. Brawn; P.I.245134 and 245132; adapted genetic material) were combined in a population with purple aleurone and purple plant factors beginning in 1965, and the population has been subjected to diverse stresses intended to press toward early maturation in normal field planting, late field plantings, summer greenhouse, autumn greenhouse, winter greenhouse, extreme crowding, etc. Crosses with several other sources have been added to the population (Zapalote Chico; early sweet corns; Oaxaca 179, Latente) at times. Some of the plants in the population (which is very heterogeneous) flower very promptly. A few unsystematically collected examples:
 

Planted	First Flowers	Harvested
14 May 66	20 June (37 days)	15 Jul (62 days)
8 Aug 66	17 Sep (40)	1 Nov (85)
15 Nov 66	15 Jan (61)	20 Mar (125)
1 May 67	22 Jun (52)	---
1 May 68	22 Jun (52)	26 Jul (86)
31 Dec 68	24 Feb (55)	2 Apr (93)
9 Apr 69	20 May (41)	27 Jun (79)
27 May 70	28 Jun (32)	4 Aug (69)
14 Jan 72	15 Mar (61)	12 May (119)
11 May 72	22 Jun (42)	26 Jul (76)
25 May 72	25 Jun (31)	27 Jul (63)
19 Dec 72	8 Feb (51)	23 Mar (94)
26 Feb 76	---	6 May (70)
7 Dec 76	---	7 Mar (90)
12 May 77	---	30 Jul (79)

Harvesting has usually been conducted very early; slow-maturing plants and ears will have been excluded in the development of the population. The dates of harvest above are very inconsistent with respect to maturity, however.

Self-pollinated progenies tend to be quite uniform within the progeny, both in flowering and in plant habit; the Gaspé form (low-eared) is no longer evident in the populations or progenies. Purple aleurone and purple plant variations are present in the population. Samples of MESS are available upon request.

E. H. Coe, Jr.

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