THE STORY OF CORN 

 by DOROTHY GILES 



Singing Valleys is American history in 

 terms of the role played by corn. It is a 

 pageant of struggle and achievement, 

 feuds and reconciliations, facts- and 

 legend. The story of corn is the story of 

 the birth, the growth and the constant re- 

 generation of a nation. 



Throughout the pattern of the history 

 of the entire American continent the 

 motif of the humble cornstalk can be 

 traced. The Aztec and Mayan civiliza- 

 tions were based on corn, and even to- 

 day the sacred Mayan rite of planting 

 four kernels to each mound is still ob- 

 served by farmers. Corn saved the first 

 settlers in America, opened the wilder- 

 ness to wave after wave of migration and 

 gave life and sustenance to the pioneers 

 and their descendants. Corn seed was 

 easily transported, quickly cultivated and 

 readily adapted to many varieties of soil. 

 It flourished everywhere and its fruit be- 

 came not only one of the basic nutriments 

 of the nation, but also a vital factor in 

 our folklore, history and culture. Corn is 

 to this day the chief product of every 

 state in the union. 



Singing Valleys is a source of informa- 

 tion and excitement, action and humor, 

 science and anecdote. 



A RANDOM HOUSE BOOK 



