MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN. 



Compiled by D. J, Browne, under the direction of the American Institute. 



INDIAN CORN.— Synonymes. 



Zea mays, of Botanists. 



Maize, Indian cornt Britain and Anglo-America, 

 Mais, Ble d'Indie, Ble de Turquie. France. 

 Maiz, Trigo de Indias. Spain. 

 Grano d'India, Grano Turco, Grano Siciliano, Italy. 

 Maiz, Milho da India, Milho grande. Portugal and Brazil. 

 ' Mais, Tiirkischer Korn. Germany. 

 Mays, Turksch Koorn. Holland. 

 Turkish Hvede. Sweden and Denmark, 

 Tureskoichljeb. Russia. 



Derivations. 



The generic name Zea is derived from the Greek zao, to live, from 

 the nutritive qualities of or some kind of corn formerly cultivated 

 in Greece or on the adjacent Archipelago. The word mays, 

 and all its derivatives, according to Clavigero, have been deri- 

 ved from the denomination of this vegetable in the Haitina lan- 

 guage, or that of Hispaniola; but by others, it is thought to come 

 from the Lettish and Livonic mayse, which signifies bread in those 

 languages. The European names Ble d'Indie, Trigo de Indias, etc., 

 have been so called on account of this grain having first been 

 brought by Columbus from America, which was known at that time 

 by the name of the " Indies;" and those names signifying " Turkish 



