MAIZE. 101 



the same ears will sometimes contain grains of 

 different colours^ 



Unlike the cereal grains which have been already 

 described, naturalists are at no loss in determining 

 the native region of maize, which is confidently held 

 to be America, the Indians throughout that conti- 

 nent having been found engaged in its^cultivation 

 at the period when the New World was first dis- 

 covered. 



This grain is of scarcely less importance than rice, 

 for the sustenance of man. It forms a principal food 

 of the rapidly increasing inhabitants of the United 

 States of America ; it constitutes almost the entire 

 support of the Mexicans ; and is consumed in Africa 

 to an extent nearly, if not quite, equal to the con- 

 sumption of rice in the same quarter. 



The merits of Indian corn have been verjr differ- 

 ently estimated ; and while some persons have in- 

 vested it with a value equal, if not superior, to that 

 possessed by the rest of the cerealia, other persons 

 have, on the contrary, placed it at the lowest station 

 among the family, scarcely, indeed, allowing it worthy 

 to take its place in the group. Without meaning 

 in any way to involve the reader in this controversy, 

 it is yet necessary to set fairly before him the facts 

 connected with the question, and he may then be 

 enabled to form a correct judgment on the matter. 



Maize is said to contain no gluten, and little, if 

 any, ready-formed saccharine matter, whence it has 

 been asserted to have but a very small nutritive power ; 

 on the other hand, it is seen that domestic animals 

 which are fed with it very speedily become fat, their 

 flesh being at the same time remarkably firm. 

 Horses which consume this corn are enabled to per- 

 form their full portion of labour, are exceedingly 

 hardy, and require but little care ; and the common 

 people of countries where Indian corn forms the 



VOL. xv. 9* 



