A CHRONICLE OF THE TRIBE OF CORN 



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This dearth of early records of the plant in the old world shows 

 convincingly the American origin of the plant, for after the discovery 

 of America its cultivation became rapidly diffused, a proof that if in- 

 digenous to Asia it would have been important agriculturally for cen- 

 turies. 



On the other hand, no one has ever questioned the fact that maize 

 was widely cultivated in America at the time the country was discov- 

 ered by Europeans. It was the staple crop in both continents and had 

 names in all the native languages. Its antiquity and importance are 

 evidenced by its prominence in the religious rites of the people. The 

 North American burial mounds, the tombs of the Incas and the temples 

 of Mexico were made depositories of the seeds just as the tombs and 

 temples of Egypt treasured wheat and barley. These facts do not indi- 

 cate antiquity in cultivation equal to that of Egypt, however, for the 



Fig. 7. An Ear of the Mexican Podded Corn (Zea mays tunicata). 



civilization of the Peruvians and Mexicans is known to be of a much 

 later era. At the same time, one may assume a history much longer 

 than that indicated by these data for two reasons : from its wide dis- 

 tribution and numerous ancient varieties, and from Darwin's discovery 

 of its seeds mixed with shells buried in soil along the Peruvian shore 

 that had become raised by natural action 85 feet above sea level. 



The American origin of maize being assured, interest in our prob- 

 lem narrows. The Americas are large. To what particular part was 

 the plant indigenous? First let me say that it is a peculiar fact that 

 the vast territory now known as the United States produced no culti- 

 vated plants of first importance. Excluding the Jerusalem artichoke, 

 some comparatively unimportant berries and some relatives of the apple, 

 our country gave man no agricultural treasures. It merely accepted 

 with thanks the lavish generosity of the tropics. As far as maize is con- 

 cerned, the physiology of the plant itself corroborates this statement. 

 It germinates and grows best in hot climates. We must look for the 

 home of maize, therefore, in the plains or plateaus of tropical North 



