258 



The Journal of Heredity 



SUPERIORITY OF NAVAJO MAIZE FOR DEEP PLANTING 



Test plantings of the Navajo dry-land maize, and Chinese and Boone County White, were 

 made in a box at the depths shown in the diagram. The Navajo surpassed its competitors 

 in growth at all depths; but from the lower levels it was the only one to emerge, due to its 

 extraordinary adaptation for such growth, through the elongation of its mesocotyl. The 

 diagram shows that at intermediate depths the Chinese and Boone varieties could not 

 force their coleoptyles to the surface, and wer^obliged to make the last few centimeters of 

 the distance by the aid of the true leaves, which in general arc ill-adapted to pushing 

 through solid earth. (Fig. 7.) 



which was left over of the seed stores of 

 the gods. All this is mixed with pollen 

 and water, and the whole tray of 

 kernels is thoroughly sprinkled and 

 anointed by stirring. The corn grains 

 thus treated are bright-yellow in color 

 and pleasantly odoriferous. All this is 

 done that the 'seed' may have the power 

 of reproduction, rapid growth and 

 strength, and that it may bear fruit 

 possessed of the properties of food, 

 which fruit shall mature with the season 

 when thrive most and bloom the little 

 yellow flowers, — early autvimn. 



SUCCESSFUL SEED SELECTION. 



"We are at first surjmscd when we 

 learn that to a remarkaV)le degree the 

 corn thus treated has vigor and the 

 quality of ripening early; but our won- 

 der may be lessened when we reflect 

 that these seeds are the most perfect of 



the whole harvest, selected mostly 

 from among those ears which soonest 

 reach maturity. Still, with the Zuni 

 all these things are living testaments of 

 faith, proving the infallibility of his 

 theory of Medicine or Fctichism and of 

 his practice of religion."' 



Mr. Gushing lived with the Zunis for 

 a number of years and Ijccamc a member 

 of the tribe. He succeeded to a remark- 

 able degree in attaining the Indian 

 point of view, but appreciation of the 

 Indians did not lessen his zeal for 

 accuracy. This series of articles written 

 in a charming literary style tells not 

 only what the Zunis eat and how they 

 secure their food, but gives a tantalizing 

 glimp.se of the character and i)er.sonality 

 of the Zuni. 



In other articles of the same series 

 the cultural methods of the Zunis are 

 described. Though mixed with super- 



'"Zuni Breadstuff," V, Frank H. Gushing, The Millstone, Vol. IX. Nov. 5. 1884. 



