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and Is the favorite crop
of the people. ' In the val
leys rlee takes Its place,
but even then there la
usually a little plot of
maize about the native's
home. The Portuguese
reached Java hi 1496 and
China in 1516, bringing
maize with them, and as
no trustworthy evidence
has ever been brought
forward to the effect that
this grain was known in
the far east prior to these
dates, It Is safe to say
that It3 march from
America along this path
is well established.
Its geographical distri
bution, therefore, Is to-day
world-wide. In America,
Kuropo, Africa, Asia and
Australasia maize is a
common and highly
prized crop. A hardy
In which maizo Is eaten to-day In America are
nil Inherited directly from the aboriginal
planters and housewives from Capo Cod'to
Chile.
The corn of the present commercial mar
ket, however, is a more highly developed
grain than that which the Europeans found
when they first landed. Science has Improved
the species in this as In other products of the
fields. Tho appropriate conditions of soil and
climate have been studied, with resulting In
creased knowledge on the subject. Corn de
mands rich land. Clay must bo avoided;
swampy, undrained areas are unsuitable, while
too much shade, as la often caused by close
proximity to timber, is sure to be harmful.
Land can be drained, however, timber can be
cut, or the shady places can be utilized for
other purposes. Soil can be Improved by fer
tilizers, or in many cases fertilization may be
accomplished, while at the same time secon
dary crops may be raised by wide planting of
corn and interplantlng between the rows.
Thus cotton can.. be grown along with corn
when the climate is favorable and good re
sults are often attained by growing peanuts as
nt'tllMf'f
43
CQZr c A cvi,, yrCVii-L, COUTH
". 1 " i i in ii ii i i,.
GIANT GORN374Lk.i
m A n
mm
IITllOUT Indian corn the native
peoples of America probably could
not have developed beyond the
stago of fcavngery, and without In
dlau corn tho explorers from Ku
ropo would certaluly have been un
able, In the conditions under which they were
forced to land upon tho western shores, to
effect a permanent settlement on the Ameri
can continent.
Maize was tho only health-sustaining food
which the Indians could supply to thopo who
uttbmpted to make a home in New England;
it sustained the adventurers who traversed the
valleys of the James, of the St. Johns and of
tho Mississippi; it provided the Spaniards in ,
Mexico with nourishment during tho reckless
march from Vera Cruz to tho plateau of Mex
ico, r.nd this samo maizo was found by Plzar
ro's small army of conquerors when the sub
jugated the innumerable hosts of the lncas
of Peru.
Yet up to the timo of the landing of Co
lumbus in America maize was absolutely un
known to tho Inhabitants of the old world.
The few kernels of the new food bought to
Queen Isabella by Columbus were clnsstd gen
erally as grains or cereals. Tho Norsemen,
who landed near Cape Cod lu 1002 A. U., found
a grain previously unknown to them and this
they called "corn," attempting to Identify It
with wheat and other grains to which they
wore already accustomed. The English Puri
tans also were astonished on landing to find
a new corn; but as they had at home grouped
all Rralus under tho namo they therefore ap
plied to It the same term, definitely distin
guishing It from tho others by the specific
phrase of Indian corn.
Indian corn is really maize; 4n English
speaking countries outside of the United
States It is called maize and In all Spanish
countries "mais" is the word employed; in
Portuguese "milho," and French ngniu "mais"
Indicate its origin. Maize is altogether an
American word, coming directly from tho
primitive Arawak, the most widely dlsscml
imtcd Indian stock in South America. It orig
inated In the south with the Guanas, on the
headwaters of tho river Paraguay, and em
braced tribes on the highlands of Bolivia, ex
tending finally to tho Goajiros peninsula, the
"most northern land of tho continent. They
were tho first, therefore, to welcome Colum
bus to .the Bahamas, Cuba and Haiti. Though
the Arawaks wero practically In a state of
savagery, they cultivated maize. The Arawak
word for maize is "marlsl," and this they had
handed over to the Caribs who Inhabited many
of the West Indian islands. It was one of the
first words Columbus heard, and through him
it became general In Europe. In Guiana and
further south on the Atlantic coast of South
America "manioc" took the place of maize
as food.
North American Indians had other expres
sions for their grain. The grain itself had
come to them partly through the Caribs, but
chiefly through the tribes of northern Mexico,
which shows that there were two channels of
communication, even In pre-Columbian times,
to the Innd on the north Atlantic. These
North American Indians seem not to have
used the word maize; it had been lost la
crossing the Gulf of Mexico, and whatever
term was employed by them is now only a
phllologic curiosity. Neither does the ancient
word of the Aztecs, of the Mayas, the Chib
chas or the lncas correspond to maize, so that
It seems certain that maize was confined to
that extensive race Inhabiting regions far to
the east and south of the original home of
Indian corn.
Tho spot from which this purely American
grain spread, even before its discovery by
Europeans, to the extreme confines of the
western hemisphere, has been accurately lo
cated. History, philology, ethnology as well
as tradition have all been factors In this result.
Indefinite claims have been advanced by Asia
9
'J
that maize was Indige
nous In tho far east and
the vague term Turkish
corn used In Germany
and elsewhere has been
alleged as proof, but
these claims have no sub
stantial warrant. Gen
eral scientific agreement,
therefore, places tho first
' home of Indian corn In
the southern section of
central Mexico. Here
lived the Mayas, tho fore
most agriculturists of
America, who long pre
ceded the Peruvians In
this nrt and whoso mate
rial Impress on their
country is Ineradicable.
All the plants closely re
lated to maize arc Mexi
can and the discovery of
a very primitive form of
the plant in this part of
Mexico aids in reaching
this conclusion. Some
what north of the Isth
mus of Tchuantepec,
therefore, tho wild maize
grew, from which sec
tion it was carried by In
dians to be the principal
food of all America.
The Mayas did not
emerge from savagery un
til after the beginning of
the Christian era. so the
cultivation and use of In
dian corn cannot ante
date 2,000 years. From
tho Mayas the grain was
spread over all America
north to tho Kahuna
and Aztecs, then to the
Pueblo Indians on the Rio Grande, and from
them eastward to the ' Mississippi. Carried
northward by tho Iroquois and Algonquins, it
was stopped only by climatic severity at the
latitude of the Great Lakes and tho lower
area of the state of Maine. Its culture ex
tended south through Guatemala and other
portions of Central America and even across
the Isthmus of Panama; thence It was carried
into tho Andean regions and extended finally
as far south in Chilo as the climate permitted
or as the Indian population desired. Enst of
the Andes the sprend of mnlze by nature was
restricted by the dense forests of the Amazon
slope and by the lower altitude of that great
drainage basin, because Indian corn requires
for its growth definite climatic conditions
which this portion of South America does not
offer. There Is no exact evidence thnt the
region of the River Platte, now so wonderfully
productive of mnlze, was utilized by the na
tive Indian tribes resident there prior to the
coming of the Spaniards.
From America maize was first Introduced
Into Spain. Thence it spread throughout Eu
rope and into Asia and Africa. In eastern Eu
rope It unfortunately received the name of
Turkish wheat because of the erroneous no
tion prevailing that tho (present) West Indies
being India everything Introduced from there
must necessarily come through Turkey. Other
confusing names imply some indefinite- origin
of this kind, but the goographic prefix refers
simply to tho commercial, not to the agricul
tural Bource of the grain. The Portuguese
carried maize into Africa In the sixteenth cen
tury and by them it gradually spread over
much of the continent. In this connection It
Is Interesting to note that tho staplo foods of
tho wild inhabitants of the dark continent
maize, manioc or cusBava and pineapple have
all been introduced through some such routes
of trade and commerce.
Mnlze early reuched India and Burmah. It
grows there now everywhere among the bills
3.000 000 000.
WQRLDS PRODUCT IQM
OF MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN
FORONL-VEiSR
e.oooooo ooo.
1.000.000 ooo.
3.300,oflO.Poo,63aooo pool aoo.ooc.oool ixi.kxTwJ 40.000.000! io.ooo.ouo.
AMERICA EQr,ESc"lASIA 1aTICa0CEAK1A
notls:-
NORTH AMERICA IHCLUDES - MUUCO.CTNTRA1.
AMERICA. THE WEST IMCIE3 AND CANADA.
QUANTITIES ARE 6VUN IN BUSHELS
t
mm
si?;
MPJiN CORN ft CHOCKS
an associated crop. All government
agricultural departments and experi
ment stations are constantly at work
studying problems of Improvement
by methods of cultivation and by
seed selection. Few grains are sus
ceptible of greater modification than
maize and the cultivation of the
higher typo generally adds to the
commercial and food value of the
crop, giving also a larger yield to the
acre.
To tho eye a field of Indian corn
13 a very beautiful sight. Its clean
limbed individual stalks have some
thing martial about them and tho
American, when he sees them In con
tinuous array from the Great Lakes,
across the Uio Grande, through Mex
ico, on the plateaus of the Andes, and
covering hundreds of square miles of
the valleys of Chile and Argentina,
has the feeling that there Is pre
served for him some trace of homo,
riant, easily cultivated and rich in
nutritious elements, It can never be
displaced as one of the leading food
products for mankind.
Maize will not grow in all climates,
however. It requires long summers with plenty
of sunlight, hot days and nights, with suffi
cient but not too much rain. The range best
Biiited for the crop is from 43 to 65 degrees F.
of mean temperature, but it will produce most
nbundantly with a maximum, temperature of
about 80 degrees F. and a rainfall of from 30
to DO Inches. Frost kills the plant In all Its
Btages and It cannot flourish where the nights
are cold, no matter how favorablo the other
conditions. In the United States an elevation
of over 2,000 feet seems too high for the com
mercial growth of Indian corn, but of course
the farther south it is traced the higher is the
elevation at which luxuriant crops are the
rule. In Mexico vast maize fields are found
at a height of over 8,500 feet and in Peru it
grows at on altitude of 12,000 feet.
Indian corn was found over most of tho
United States east of the Mississippi by the
earliest explorers and settlers. It was the
crop to which the Indians gave most attention
and the great staple that turned them from
the nomadic life of the chase Into the home
building people such as agriculturists must
be. The primitive method of preparing the
ground was by tilling with hoes mado of clam
shells, but the English taught more improved
methods, although the latter learned the ad
vantage of fertilizing with herrings, which the
Indians applied abundantly to the surrounding
soil. Their hills wero five feet apart a prac
tical distance that can be decreased only when
the soil is rich and the climate very favorable.
As the explorers traveled southward they
found different varieties and different methods
of preparing it for food. It was made into
meal; it was boiled or parched or roasted.
Often it was prepared Into a flour and served
as provision for a Journey. The many forms
II eL-nr?".?i I annoo aroF? sT?l .31 WORLD'S
II lt-Uf'qy ' j '" ' extorts or?ft
rWL Bi?-v.-ivjU-rj ... maize '2
I 1, .77.7- -i. IHDWMCORJi
' 1
wherever he may be on eimcr continent. The
ears of corn also are beautiful and the tassels
have been the theme of poetry in all lan
guages. The stalk grows to a height of two
to 15 feet, depending upon the variety of the
grain planted and the nourishment It re
ceives. Corn is an annual, reaching its full
maturity within a single season, sometimes
within 60 days of planting, and must, there
fore, be sown from the seed for each recur
ring crop year. As a botanical species It does
not of itself travel far and is propagated ra
ther feebly by natural means. Consequently
the widespread knowledge of corn shows to
what extent It must have been cherished by
the Indians and how It must hnvo been hand
ed on from one tribe and country to another.
There are six well-known kinds of Indian
corn, with innumerable varieties, including
pop corn, flint corn, dent corn, soft or Cuzco
corn (the name indicating some traditional
origin from Peru), and the delicious sweet
corn. The pop corn is supposed to be the di
rect descendant of the Mexican ancestor.
As a food product raalze has few equals
among the cereals. The Indians thrived on It,
and sov long as they continue its use they
show much of their pristine sturdincss, but
when by climatic or other reasons it is de
nied them they suffer in physique and moralo.
In Asia and Africa maizo is likewise a food
for man, but In north Europe it has not at
tained the popularity it merits, although Its
nutrltivo valuo far surpasses, at the same
cost, many of tho food products the peasant
consumes. Strong effort has been made by
the United States government to introduce
com into Europo in all Its different culinary
forms, but the conservatism of the old world
is not easily overcome in favor of food pro
ducts from the new.
Try This In November.
Thousands upon thousands of fam
ilies who have not been regular eat
ers of Quaker Oats will begin on the
first of November and cat Quaker
Oats onco or twice every day for thirty
days of this month; tho result in
good health and more strength and
vigor will mean that every other
month in the year will find them doing
the same thing.
Try it! Serve Quaker Oats plenti
fully and frequently for the thirty
days of November and leave off a cor
responding amount of meat and greasy
foods. You'll get inoro health, more
vigor and strength than you ever got
in thirty days of any other kind of
eating. . ,
While you are trying this see that
the children get a full share.
Quaker Oats is packed in regular
size packages and large size family
packages. 7
Object of Increased Solicitude.
"There never was a time when the
farmer was so highly considered as he
is to-day," said the gentle Jollier.
"That's right," answered Mr. Corn
tossel; "they're making a heap o' fuss
over us agricultural folks. You seen,
crops has been kind o' good lately. In
addition to votes we've got a little
spare change that's worth lookln' aft
er." Washington Star.
Ladles Can Wear Shoes
On size biiialli r utter UMing Allni's Foot
Eune, the nntispptlc powder. It m.ikos
tlKlit or new shoos easy. Cures swollen,
hot, BWCiitliiK, (idling foot, ingrowing
nails. Always line it to liroalc in new '
Shoes. At all Dnicslsts. 23c. Don't accept
any substitute. Trial package FREH hy
mull. Address Allen S.Olmsted.LcUuy.N.Y.
blrth-
Much Time on the Road.
She I reached my thirtieth
day yesterday.
lie It must have taken you at least
40 years to get there. FUegen do Blatter.
Stop guessing! Try the best and most
certain remedy for all painful ailments
11a minis Wizard Oil. The way it re
lieves all soreness from sprains, cuts,
wounds, burn9, scalds, etc., is wonderful.
Tho rule of three Is fully recognized
by tho man who lives with his uiother-
lu-law, his wife and his first baby.
SntAINS AND HRI'ISES
dlwppmr Itko iiiavio uiiiIit th hi'ulinir touch rf
I'orry imtin rnitiKiuer. jHiniiginiHU'y wcatutTiio
Duuavliold tliuuld bo wtthuuUt. lu iic,'ibc,lAK sllol.
Don't think that because a man is
willing to lend you a helping hand
he'll stand for a touch.
Cnnstlnxtlnn itmri mnnr arrlnnt iIIumhoii. tt
Is Ihoruuvhlr ctinxl Iit Imctur I'irrcn's I'loaunt
falloti. UDBljHiitle, tUreo torcaltmrtlo.
When duty calls on a raan ho is apt
to be out.
So-
HI
An achine back is instantly
relieved by an application of
Sloan's Liniment.
This lisimcnt takes the placa
of massage and is better than
sticky plasters. It penetrates
without rubbing through
the skin and muscular tissue
right to the bone, quickens the
tlood, relieves congestion, and
gives permanent as well as
temporary relief.
Here's the Proof.
Mr. Jamks C. I.kr, of 1100 9th Si,
B.K., Washington, b.C, writes: "Thlrti
yean ago I fell from a eaffold and sarf
ciisly injured my back. I suffered terrt.
blT at times ; f mm the aninll of my bark
II around my stomach was Just as If I
bad been beaten with a club. I uned.
very plaster I could Ret with no relief.
Moan's I.lnlment took ths palu rlKht
out, and I can now do as much ladder
Work as any man in the shop, vhaaka to
Sloan's
Liniment
Mr. J. P. Evaxi, of Mt. Airy, Oa.,
ays i "After being alUloted for thre
ieart with rheumatism, I used Sloan's
.Inlment, and wat eured sound and
well, and am glad to aay I Daren't been
troubled with rheumatism line. Mr
leg was badly swollen from my hip to
my knee. One-balf bottle took tha
ywi uu swelling out. -
Sloan's Liniment
has no equal as a
remedy for Rheu
matism, Neuralgia
or any pain or
stiffness in tho
. muscles or joints,
fflcM,2Sc.,SOc.tndS1.00
Hlnan'a book a
-, cattle, sharp,
sind poultry saai
!. Addresa
Dr. Earl S. Sloan,
Boston, Mast., U.S.A.
1
tt afflleied with
awierra,ai
I Thompson's Eyi Water
