13 



present remote probability may become a reasonable one, 

 if modern antiquarians succeed in establishing the fact of 

 the discovery of America by the Chinese, at least a thous- 

 and years before its discovery by Columbus a triumph of 

 skillful and successful research which may not be far off. 



Whatever the origin of corn may have been, whether 

 with the Indians of North America, or "on the slopes of 

 the Andes, or in the fertile valleys of the mountains of 

 China, " modern botanists and naturalists are agreed that 

 the origin was of the species zea tunica clothed corn. 

 That is, each kernel was enveloped in a separate tunic, or 

 husk, similar to grains of wheat in the head. Descending 

 from this type, species, classes, and varieties have become 

 almost innumerable, each country, climate, soil, situation, 

 and parallel having those suited to the circumstances. No 

 plant accepts the modifications of soil, climate, and condi- 

 tions, so readily and quickly as corn. No other succeeds 

 so well from the equator to, say 50 north and south lati- 

 tude. None so easily preserved through all seasons, and 

 for such length of time. It is called both the "the poor 

 man's crop " and " the lazy man's crop/' because, particu- 

 larly, it can be left standing in the field almost from one 

 year's end to another, not requiring to be garnered at any 

 specific period. This mode of caring for a corn crop, how- 

 ever, is not presented in form of a recommendation, by any 

 means, but simply as showing a characteristic. In any 

 event, it is the crop for the million. 



RACES AND VALUE. 



There are at least five distinct races or species of corn : 

 Dent, flint, sweet, pop, and soft. These divisions are 

 plainly marked, and easily distinguished by inspection of 

 either, or both, ears and kernels. The number of what 

 may be properly termed varieties are unlimited almost, 



