256 



The JoiRXAL of Heredity 



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THE PARTS OF A SEEDLING IVIAIZE PL.ANT 



This diagram will furnish the non-botanical reader with the names needed to understand the 

 story of Pueblo Indian maize breeding. (Fig. 5.) 



places, one by one, the cars of corn in 

 the tray — using care that they shall all 

 point eastward — and lays the bunch of 

 soot over them. The women of the 

 house flock to the mantel whereon 

 stands the family bowl of prayer-meal, 

 each taking a ]3inch of the sacred sub- 

 stance, while one of their number, the 

 'corn-matron,' hastens away to the 

 granary, and carefully lifting the ya'- 

 po-io and mi-k' iap-pan-ne , brings them 

 forth. As she nears the tray, she says, 

 across the objects in her hands (address- 

 ing the new corn), 'My children, how 

 be ye these many days?' Tlicn the 



new corn is supjjosed to rcj^h' through 

 the voices of the other women, now 

 gathered near, 'Hap])ily, our old ones, 

 hapjjilyl' With this the corn matron 

 deposits her burden on the new bunch 

 of soot, and all i)resent say little prayers 

 significant of the occasion and setting 

 forth their wishes for 'age of life, hajipy 

 forttnie and the health of strength born 

 of the food of maize.' This ceremonial 

 is called the 'Meeting of the Children.' 

 and is jjcrformed in commemoration of the 

 return of the lost corn maidens under the 

 guidance of Pai-a-tn-ma, and their wel- 

 come by the Seed-Priests of ancient Zuni. 



