HISTORY OF THE CORN PLANT 3 



and in the structure of the flowers, but differing- in not 

 forming an ear. This is extensively grown in Mexico 

 and as experiments in crossing teosinte and corn have 

 resulted in producing cornlike plants, the very close 

 affinity of the two plants is clearly proven. 



In summing up the conditions of Indian corn and 

 its habitation in America before it was cultivated, the 

 famous French botanist, A. de Candolle, says : "We 



330 331 332 



Fig 2— Uniform Ears of Boone County White 



have nothing but conjectural knowledge. Maize is a 

 plant singularly unprovided with means of dispersion 

 and protection. The grains are hard to detach from 

 the ear, which is itself enveloped. They have no tuft 

 or wings to catch the wind, and when the ear is not 

 gathered by man the grains fall still fixed in the recep- 

 tacle, and then rodents and other animals must destroy 



