)28 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Warsaw Horticultural Society. 



JANUARY MEETING. 



The first meeting of the year 1876 was held at Dr. J. W. Hollow- 

 bush's office, in Warsaw, on the 12th inst. Both presiding officers being 

 absent, Capt. W. S. Hathaway was called to the chair. 



At this meeting the work of the new year was vigorously entered 

 upon, and while there was some time spent in recounting the disasters and 

 discouragements of the past year, all seemed to be determined and hope- 

 ful for the future. 



B. Whitaker, Esq. , read before the Society a very comprehensive 

 essay on Corn, which elicited a very extended and general discussion. 



Mr. Hathaway said no man ever saw Indian corn growing wild in 

 America. 



Mr. Whitaker claimed it was found wild in various places in the 

 western hemisphere. 



Mr. Hathaway read a paper to show that the origin of our great 

 Illinois cereal was still a mooted point, and said that though its origin 

 was generally attributed to America, he could find no positive evidence 

 to sustain it. He admitted it was cultivated by the American Indians, 

 and instanced one field alone found in what is the present State of Maine, 

 of 300 acres, cultivated by the native Indians. He said he could find no 

 account of its origin in this country, and that it was not known in Europe, 

 Asia or Africa before the discovery of America ; thinks that history is 

 silent with regard to the origin of this valuable cereal. 



A number thought corn was discovered growing wild in Paraguay, 

 by Humboldt. 



Mr. Hathaway — The Paraguay corn, or any other known account 

 of its origin, is incorrect. 



Dr. Hollowbush said all writers of note, and all authority on the 

 subject, agree in its being of American origin. It has only been /^//«^ in 



