simplyterrestrial

Pink blazing, I believe that's called.

Actually, corn is still one of the most selectively bred crops. Even today. The foundational genetic stock of the crop which gives it the vast majority of it's traits--height, water requirements, ears per stalk, etc. etc. all come from selective breeding which is constantly ongoing. Genetic engineering is used on top of all that to add a few specific traits, like resistance to Round Up.

That was precisely my experience when I drove into the Utah desert for the first time. Drove in at night and when I woke up in the morning all I could think of was Spaceman Spiff.