The Cereals. 



6^ 



Maize. 



Zea Mays, L. 



Htnd. — Mukka-Bhuta, BUt, Makai, Janara. Beng. — Butta, Makka-janar. Punjab 



— Makkai, Kukri, Bari-joar. 

 Oudh — Bari-jowar. Tamt'I—Makka. 2>/.— Zonalu. 

 Sanskrit — Yavanala. 



This handsome annual erect grass bears its grain in a solitary- 

 axillary female spike. The grain varies much in colour, form, 

 and size. 



The maize, though a native of South America, has been 

 long cultivated in many parts of India : there are now over 

 2J4. million acres under this crop. It is sown in June and July 

 and cut in September. 



The nutrient-ratio is here i : 8-3, and the nutrient-value 88/^. 



The above percentages are the means deduced from several 

 analyses of whole Indian -grown maize. They show a lower 

 proportion of water and of oil than the average of European 

 and American samples. The range in the latter, when a few 

 exceptional and clearly abnormal results are excluded, is not 

 wide. Generally, the American-grown maize contains about i 

 per cent, more fat. or oil than the East Indian. 



Maize is extensively used throughout the Benares, Patnd, and 

 Bhdgulpur Divisions, chiefly amongst the peasantry. Young and 

 green it is roasted and greedily eaten by natives of Gorakhpur, 

 Behar, and Patni. Maize is not considered so wholesome as 

 wheat, being thought rather heating. The stems, both green 

 and dry, and the leaves, are used as cattle food. 



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