HISTORY OF MAIZE.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 21 May 1913, Page 3

HISTORY OF MAIZE.

The history of Indian corn must be taken, to a large extent, from the remains of the Indian civilization found in various parts of Nortn and South America. Consequently the history is vague. Here and there in mounds and caves are found ears of corn similar to what we, have at the present time and occasionally tEere will be some recorded statement in places where that corn was used, but at best it is a very unsatisfactory history, to anyone desiring details.

As nearly aa we know at the present time, corn originated in Central America. Some maintain that the point of origin i s north of this, in Mexico. However this may be, the fact is pretty definitely established that America is the native home of what we know as Indian corn, or maize. It is probable that the Indians had several kinds of corn. Perhaps each section of the country had its particular type. Europe, before the discovery of America, produced only the small grains, such as wheat, oats and barley. Those grains went under the name of corn, but the genuine maize was not produced there until seed was secured in America. It is most likely that our popcorn, sweet corn, and in fact, all of our corn, came from native plants of the Central American countries. There are various theories surrounding the plant development of c.orn, but the most of these usually concede that teosinte represents an original form from which Cora has come by natural and artificial development. TBis, too, is pretty definitely known, that the corn plant at one time was branched and produced eatrs on those branches. Many of these ideas come from an inspection of fields of corn which have been allowed to care for themselves so far as :he selection of seed is concerned and which harve degenerated. In such fields the stalk and ears show peoularities which are not desirable, and which, it is charged, have been bred out of corn of the. past by the farmers of the past generations. The lesson uaturally follows that to maintain the corn plant in its high state of cultivation care of the seed and continual improvement of the plant are necessary.