296 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. 1, no. 4 
GERMINATION OF NAVAJO MAIZE 
It has been frequently stated that the Navajos, like their neighbors, 
the Hopi and Zunis, plant maize at unusual depths, 15, 30, and even 45 
cm. having been reported. Since planting at such depths is known to 
be impracticable with other varieties, experiments were planned to test 
the ability of the Navajo maize 1 to pierce the soil. A representative 
experiment is here reported. A box 70 cm. long, 33 cm. wide, and 34 
cm. deep was sunk in the ground. A quantity of sandy-loam soil 
sufficient to fill the box was slightly moistened and carefully sifted. At 
one end the box was filled to within 1 cm. of the top, the soil sloping in 
a straight line to within 1 cm. of the bottom at the other end. 
Fig. 2.—Diagram showing the average size of seedlings of Chinese, Boone County White, and Navajo 
maize planted at different depths. 
Five seeds each of Navajo, Boone County White, and Chinese maize 
were placed in a row transverse to the inclined surface of the soil, 2 cm. 
from the top of the box. A similar row was planted at a depth of 4 
cm. from the top, and so on at the following depths: 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 
20, 24, 28, and 32 cm. The box was then filled with the soil and struck 
off level with the top. The seeds germinated promptly, and when the 
most advanced seedlings had reached a total height of about 60 cm. 
the plants which appeared above the surface were dug up, and the 
mesocotyl and coleoptyle were measured. (See Table I and fig. 2.) 
1 In the fall of 1912 Messrs. Walter T. Swingle and Karl F. Kellerman visited the region about Shiprock, 
N. Mex., in the Navajo Reservation and secured specimen ears of the maize grown by the Navajos. This 
collection was kindly placed at the disposal of the writer. Additional seed was later secured through the 
-courtesy of Mr. William T. Shelton, Indian agent at Shiprock. 
