236 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATWNAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. 54. 



are produced. 



Corn is planted in the sandy soil along the washes, dependence 

 for its ripening being placed on the winter snows and the siimmer 

 thunderstorms. In spite of the conditions, large quantities of corn 

 The fields are cleared of brush in February and 

 leveled. Planting begins in April and 

 the crop is gathered in September. 

 Spring frosts and sandstorms are draw- 

 backs to the success of the crops, and 

 sometimes floods injure the low-lying 

 fields. The tools used are a planting 

 stick usually with wedge point (pi. 19, 

 fig. 4), but sometimes having a blade 

 (pi. 19, fig. 5). A hole is dug and from 

 to 12 or more grains placed therein and 

 covered. The hills are about 6 feet apart. 

 The plant is small and rarely 5 feet high, 

 the ears shooting near the ground. 

 The field is kept clear of weeds by means of hoes, usually the 

 heavy homemade blade of Spanish pattern, like those seen among 

 the Rio Grande Pueblos (fig. 1), sometimes of wood (pi. 19, fig. 6), 

 and anciently, according to tradition, of stone. These implements 



Fig. 1.— Iron broad hoe of Spanish 



PATTERN. 



Fig. 2.— Hand dibble of wood. 



are smooth spatulate blades of fine stone (see Archeology, second 

 floor, east side), found mostly in the northern clifi'-house region, but 

 never in ancient Hopi sites. The Hopi call them wiki, hoes, regard 

 them as sacred objects, and place them on the altars of some of their 



ceremonies, but there is little evidence 

 tliat the fine spatulate stones were 

 actual hoes, though the Hopi may 

 have anciently used stone hoes. The 

 wooden hand trowel for tending 

 plants appears to be a survival 



(fig- 2). 



Corn is gathered by removing the 

 ears and transporting them to the 

 pueblo in wicker carrying baskets on 

 the back (see family group) or in blankets over the back or on the 

 burro. The fodder is gathered by breaking off the stalks and tying 

 them in bundles. It is usually almost valueless, as the leaves are 

 frayed or whipped off by the wind. Much of it is used in the green 

 state during the roasting-ear season, when a part of the crop is baked 



Fig. 3.— Field pit oven for roasting 

 green corn; a, fire pit; b^ flue. 



