CORN. 31 



Geographical distribution and history: Corn is undoubtedly 

 of American origin. It was grown by the Indians long before the 

 discovery of America. The Incas of Peru are said to have built 

 large storerooms for it, to prevent famine in case of crop failure. 

 It was grown as far north as the St. Lawrence valley when the first 

 explorers arrived there. Ears of corn are often found in old Indian 

 tombs, deposited with the deceased as provision for the long journey 

 to the happy hunting grounds. 



Where or when it was first cultivated, or from what wild plant 

 it developed, is not definitely known. It is generally assumed that 

 its cultivation started in Central America and spread north and 

 south. It has never been found wild. This might either mean that 

 wild corn was extinct before botanists could make a record of it, or 

 that it is a plant so different from the cultivated form that it is now 

 impossible to recognize it. The latter assumption is the one generally 

 favoured, and the plant mentioned as the probable primitive form 

 is the Mexican Teosinte (Euchlaena mexicana Schrad.). Although 

 very different from corn in its general appearance, Teosinte is evid- 

 ently closely related to it, as is shown by the fact that hybrids 

 obtained by crossing the two produce germinable seeds. Though 

 this is not conclusive proof, it is evidence that corn may have de- 

 veloped from Teosinte, for in all other known cases hybrids between 

 distinct grass species are sterile. 



Climate: Being of southern origin, corn requires a warm, moist 

 climate. In the north, where the season is short and the weather 

 comparatively cool, only the earliest varieties reach full maturity 

 under ordinary conditions. 



Soil: It demands a warm, fertile soil and thrives best in a deep, 

 rich loam, well drained yet stored with abundant moisture. A good 

 supply of organic matter, furnishing readily available plant food, 

 will increase the yield considerably. Poor sandy soils, or soils with 

 the water table near the surface, do not allow the roots to gather 

 sufficient nourishment. In stiff clay, or in soils which form a hard- 

 pan subsurface, the growth is slow and the yield uncertain, especially 

 in dry weather. 



Varieties: Corn includes hundreds of agricultural varieties. 

 This is chiefly due to the readiness with which cross-fertilization 

 takes place between individuals of different types. Some varieties 

 are dwarfs, no more than eighteen inches high; others are giants, 



