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17.— MAIZE. 



Nat. Oed. — Gramineae. 



Zea Mays. 



This grain is popularly known under the 

 name of Indian Corn, and is extensively used in 

 this and other countries as an article of food. 

 The preparations of Maize used in this country 

 are known by various names, such as Corn Flour, 

 Maizena, Oswego, Polenta, dc. 



The plant is a native of America, but it is 

 extensively cultivated in the warm parts of the 

 Old World. Attempts to cultivate it in England 

 have, to a great extent, failed on account of the 

 uncertainty of our climate. 



Maize Starch may almost be described as 

 magnified Eice Starch, although the granules 

 are not so uniform in size, but they are very 

 characteristic in appearance and easily identified. 

 The hilum is prominent and sometimes takes the 

 appearance of an irregular cross. It is, perhaps, 

 the best example we have of a polygonal granule, 

 and may be taken as the type of angular Starches 

 of this order, as Wheat Starch may of the 

 circular. 



