160 THE CHIEF NUTRITIVE PLANTS OF THE TORRID ZONE 



homes to our part of the world is, and ever will be, hidden 

 in legendary obscurity ; but the epoch when maize was for the 

 first time seen and tasted by Europeans lies before us in the 

 broad daylight of authentic history. For, when Columbus 

 discovered Cuba, in the year 1492, he found maize cultivated 

 by the Indians, and was equally pleased with the taste of the 

 roasted grains and astonished at their size. In the follow- 

 ing year, when he made his triumphant entry into Barcelona, 

 and presented his royal patrons — Ferdinand and Isabella — 

 with specimens of the various productions of the New World, the 

 maize-spikes he laid down before their throne, though but little 

 noticed, were in reality of far greater importance than the heaps 

 of gold which were so falsely deemed to be the richest prizes 

 of his grand discovery. 



In this manner maize, which is found growing wild from the 

 Eocky Mountains to Paraguay, and had been cultivated from 

 time immemorial, as well in the Antilles as in the dominions of 

 the Mexican Aztecs and of the Peruvian Incas, was first con- 

 veyed from the New World to Spain, whence its cultivation 

 gradually extended over the tropical and temperate zone of 

 the eastern hemisphere. Eound the whole basin of the 

 Mediterranean, maize has found a new home, and its grain 

 now nourishes the Lombard and the Hungarian, as it does 

 the Egyptian fellah or the Syrian peasant. 



While our northern cereals only produce a pleasing effect 

 when covering extensive fields, but are individually too in- 

 significant to claim attention, the maize-plant almost reminds 

 the spectator of the lofty Bambusacese of the tropical world. 

 Even in our gardens it rises above man's height, and in warmer 

 countries not seldom attains the gigantic stature of fourteen 

 feet. Ensiform, dark green, lustrous leaves, somewhat resembling 

 those of the large Oarweeds, or Laminarise, of the northern seas, 

 spring alternately from every joint of this cereal, streaming like 

 pennants in the wind. The top produces a bunch of male 

 flowers of various colours, which is called the tassel. Each 

 plant likewise bears one or more spikes or ears, the usual 

 number being three, though as many as seven have been seen 

 occasionally on one stalk. These ears proceed from the stem, at 

 various distances from the ground, and are closely enveloped by 

 several thin leaves, forming a sheath, or husk They consist of 



