CHAPTER II 



ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION 



In common with all living organisms, corn has been de- 

 veloped through a long and slow evolutionary process. 

 We can only guess at the probable place, origin, and course 

 of evolution by a study of botanically related forms, and 

 especially by a consideration of the embryonic develop- 

 ment of the corn plant itself. How much of the evo- 

 lutionary change was wrought by natural selection, and 

 how much is the result of artificial selection, we can never 

 know. It is probable that corn reached a stage of eco- 

 nomic value before attracting the attention or care of 

 man. Since then, no doubt most of the further changes 

 are the result of natural variation and artificial selection. 



8. Geographical origin. — Numbers of investigators 

 have made careful studies regarding the probable region 

 in which Indian corn originated. In the early part of 

 the nineteenth century, there was some controversy as to 

 whether this plant was of American origin, the question 

 being based on the contention of some persons that maize 

 had been cultivated in Europe previous to the discovery 

 of America. Careful investigation has not disclosed 

 proof of this supposition, and it is not likely that a plant 

 of such easy culture and obvious value could have existed 

 in Europe without being known. According to Harsh- 

 berger, it seems most probable that the cultivation of 

 maize originated in the high plateau region of central or 



15 



