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\ aThe Indian and
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ay ROBERT H. MOULTON
IAIZK, or Indian corn, in
ii s present form repre
sents one of tlu.* great
aehiovcni nts of prim
itive planter s, the
North American In
ftQflk. _ dlan. It came orig
-jr —inally, it is now gener
"T ally accepted, from
~vjT'. ■ ***~n southern Mexico, and
was eaten by t lie
r . :jgt Maya tribes. At first
it was nothing more
Than a coarse grass, on which were
Jtfny ears resembling the top of tho
■•(heat stalk. Much grain had its own
envelope or husk. Occasionally, even
now, grains of corn are found which
Stave their original husk, thus showing
Stew ttie maize of our day reverts to
T!i<* plant was essentially trop
ical aiid even now, after centuries of
iruliorif in the temperate zone, it is
sensitive to frost.
The tribes of North America saw
sWte possibilities of the grain and has
tened Its evolution. There has been
<vis breeding by white farmers, yet
* n matter of fact the corn culture
f lbc present day is practically as
'B ramc from the hand of the Indian.
Ste hns adapted ami modified it to the
■various sections of the country by a
iproccxs of careful selection.
PS had been accepted for many years
ISwt in the Dakotas and much of the
#inrtliwesf it was impossible for the
farmers to grow corn because
•mS the varieties tried were killed by
feast. Recently it occurred to some j
•dentists that despite the drawback j
*f‘She weather (lie Mandan Indians of
Tifr North were raising corn. An ex-
IfiMiition made a study of the agricul
tural ui itlKKi.s of the Mandans, and it
?#er>rf<p**<l that for centuries the j
■firmer* of I lie tribes had been devel-,
wping n hardy corn. The seed bad |
tkeee selecttnl from year to year from
ffJafts which showed no effect of frost.
The stalks of tills variety as so stunt
•seo' that they are more like shrubs
Itcuo tlm plant which is common In
rthcr latitudes.
One of the most interesting and re
wtfcable facts in connection with In
ssuo corn is that three tribes—the
M'iiitsa. the Arikarn and the Man
vttxs who. lived along the Missouri
atwer and Its tributaries in North Da
**tu, were practicing a highly devel
oped system of corn culture at the
(tone wf tlie first recorded visit of the
man in lT.'iS. Ardieological evi
dence secured from the Indian remains
f the section indicate that corn was
ifrwn* raised in this distrlet three dr
tour hundred years ago.
ts n matter of fact, Jacques Car
der, the iirst European to enter the
■* ljnvrenee, observed large fields of
pewing maize at llochelaga (now
Skntnal) in 1534, exactly 389 years
Cr. and the tribes between northwest
Sfarico and the plains of Kansas were
ftauul to he growing it when visited
Coronado in 1540. The ease with
•which maize can ho cultivated and
.wNserved. and its bountiful yield,
-arased its rapid extension among the
fcrdians after it came Into use. With
Stir exception of l>etter tillage the
jMthod of Its cultivation is much the
nine today among civilized men as
nswng the natives.
Oae would naturally expect the
■mttiern and eastern Indians to be
corn raisers, as they lived in re-
Ctecu of abundant rainfall and sutfi
rw t summer heat. It is really as
(tMfshing, however, that the upper
dsvsouri Indians. living under semi*
•wtrA and northern conditions, should
Arreiop corn raising to a point that
■ww* not surpassed by any other tribe
to America. This corn culture was of
tmdi importance that the early fur
jßaders established a distillery In 1533
mm
■■■* .
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at Fort Union, which was located at
flu* mouth of the Yellowstone river.
Since the Indians were the first dry
land farmers and corn raisers of the
Northwest, tho corn history of that
region naturally begins with them.
Their corn was the last of the Indian
corn 'o be adopted by the white man
and the early flint group of today is
directly derived from it.
According to Scattered Corn Wom
an, an elderly Mandan matron, and
daughter of the last .Mandan corn
priest, the Mandans had at one time
what they considered to be thirteen
distinct Varieties of corn. The varie
ties, some of which have now undoubt
edly disappeared, were always kept
separate and planted In separate fields
to prevent mixing. Each family kept
and planted one, two or three sorts,
which were passed along from one gen
eration to the next, and no other
kinds were planted In the family
fields.
The fields were not large from our
viewpoint, but when we think of the
labor required in clearing and tending
them with the rude implements used,
the size seems considerable. The In
dian acre was not of definite size. It
consisted of seven rows of corn with
a row of beans between each two
rows of corn. The length of the rows,
however, was not fixed, and the land
occupied by the squashes, which were
always a part of every garden, and by
the sunflower, was not included in
computing the acreage planted. As
near as much questioning of Scattered
Corn Woman revealed, an Indian acre
would average between a third and a
fourth of one of our acres !n area.
The fields were usually located both
on the bottom lands and on the higher
and drier first bench lands along the
Missouri river. In the brushy bottoms
the land was first cleared with a stone
ax, a spot usually being selected
where there were not more than one
or two large trees, which were left
standing. After cutting, the brush
was burned in heaps on the ground,
which was then raked over. After this
the soil was dug up with a heavy,
pointed ash stick some four feet long
and one-half to two inches in diameter,
called a digging stick, in hills about
twelve inches in diameter and about
a long step apart for corn. The beans
were planted somewhat closer to
gether, hut nil rows were a long step
apart. The field was frequently fenced
with brush or wickerwork barrier to
keep out the various animals, both
wild and domesticated.
When the fields had once been
cleared the preparations for planting
in ensuing years were not so arduous.
The old stalks and vines, together with
j the dried weeds and brush still left
j on the field, were raked up with a
| rake of wood or of deer antlers, piled
In heaps and burned. Then the old
roots were removed and the hills were
again dug up and the earth broken up
j with the digging stick and hone hoe.
j The first seed planted In the spring
I was the sunflower, which was put in
! around the outside edge of the field
when the Missouri river broke up;
1 that is, at the same time that the tir-t
field work started. Corn planting
started about the first of May and was
continued up to the first of June in
I the larger fields, every kernel being
THE DANIELSVILLE MONITOR, DANIELSVILLE, GEORGIA.
carefully placed by hand at the rate
of seven or eight kernels to the hill.
After the first of June the beans were
put in, and lastly the squashes were
planted at the time when the wild
roses bloomed.
i At the completion of the planting
i the hoeing began, and usually the
i field was entirely hoed through twice
during the season. The hoeing "as
done with an implement having a
handle abopt the length of a mattock
or pick handle with a blade made
from the shoulder-blade of a buffalo,
or occasionally an elk, or from a
broad piece of buffalo horn taken from
j the base near the skull.
1 The planting season and the double
round of hoeing usually consumed all
of the growing time. Most of the field
i work was done in the early morning
hours, tiie women getting up with the
sun and going out to ttie fields, often
accompanied by the young girls, where
they worked till the heat of the sun
began to be oppressive, or their house
hold duties called. In families where
there were several wives, each wife
usually had her own separate field or
fields. The size of the individual field
ranged from one to four acres. When
a family had planted from nine to
twelve Indian acres, about three of the
acres of corn were used green—part
in a prolonged feast of roasted green
corn, and part boiled and dried for
winter use. The remainder of the field
was left to ripen. The average yield
of the Mandan corn is estimated to
have been about twenty bushels per
acre.
When the priest pronounced the corn
ripe the whole village repaired to the
fields. The corn was snapped from
the stalk, husk and all, and thrown
into piles in the fields, whence it was
later carried In baskets to the drying
scaffold in front of the family lodge.
In the work of the harvest only did
the men take any part. At that time
they labored in the fields with the
women, the prospect of feasts espe
cially prepared for them being the
Incentive.
After the com was all gathered at
the scaffold all the good ears were
braided into strings or traces by the
husks. These braids and cache-pits
full were the regular measurements of
the amount of corn. The poor ears
and nulihins were thrown loose on the
scaffold floor to dry, then thrashed out
on an old robe or tent skin with sticks.
As the corn was sorted for braiding
the very best —ripe, large, straight
rowed, well-filled ears were tucked
away into a sack by themselves. These
were later all braided together and
furnished the seed stock for the next
season. All the braided corn was
hung on the two-story stage or scaffold
to dry and cure In the sun and air,
the whole frame and sides being cov
ered with braids.
When the corn was thoroughly
dried It was taken down and stored
in cache-pits in the ground. These
pits were of bottle-like shape, five to
eight feet deep and four to six feet
in diameter underground, having a ca
pacity of from twenty to forty bushels.
They were carefully lined with dried
grass before putting In the corn anTI
when full were covered with grass, a
board fitted snugly in the neck or nar
row entrance hole, and dirt filled in
and smoothed over to hide the opening.
Every Mnndan village was pitted with
( these caches, some of which were al
ways Inside the houses. They were
| opened during the winter when the
' need nrose.
In view of the success of the Man
| dan Indians in raising corn, there
seems no reason why the higher plains
area of North Dakota and neighboring
states cannot lie brought into the orn
| bolt, a matter which has been much
discussed within the past few years
and regarding which there has been
considerable difference of opinion.
Removes Rusted Bolts.
Operating on the principle of a
screw jack is anew tool with which
''“its or pins that have rusted fua
i nbe removed from machinery.
REAL HUE-LIKE
HUJ9IEH
Type of Residence Which Is Al
ways Attractive.
FUSSY FRILLS ARE LEFT OUT
Plans Are Well Adapted to Any Type
of Construction, Brick or Stucco
Being Particularly Effective —
Has All Conveniences.
By WILLIAM A. RADFORD
Mr. William A. Radford will answer
questions and give advice FREE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining to the
subject of building, for the readers of this
paper. On account of his wide experience
as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he
is, without ■doubt, the highest authority
on all these subjects. Address all inquiries
to William A. Radford, No. 1827 Prairie
avenue, Chicago, 111., and only Inclose
two-cent stamp for reply.
The reason for the appeal of this
home is not far to seek. It fulfills the
function of a home, without frills.
Neither does it call for an extraor
dinary outlay for those details which,
while they undoubtedly make for at
tractiveness, also add appreciably to
the cost.
The porch is a roomy portico, shel
tering the entrance doorway, and the
door here gives access immediately to
/Mt m.
•M . JJ!tedw|i: jMk H; 4Js
ilie living room—a fine large apart
ment 11 feet C inches by 24 feet, with
a space for a fireplace at one end. The
dining room is a well-proportioned
room, with a triple-light window. Sep
arating the kitchen from the dining
room is a passageway which could be
equipped with cupboards to serve as a
butler’s pantry. Note that the kitchen
has a portion set off to hold the re
frigerator, with a door for outside
icing. There are two bedrooms, one
12 feet by 11 feet, and the other 10
feet G inches by 11 feet, and each has
ample closet room. There is . a linen
closet off the hallway that connects
these bedrooms with the bathroom.
While this house is shown for
frame, it would appear to excellent ad
vantage in stucco, or in a light-colored
clay or cement brick. If finished In
frame it should be preferably painted
white or in a light cream or gray col
Livm
P(9B. f/lf-6‘X Z4-0' '
8 pooai &er Ba|lwil&Ei7 Pa
a k-UU( \ 12-oxit-O |
Floor Plan.
nr, with white trimming. The terrace,
which extends across the front, if
equipped with flower boxes, will add
a cheerful note of color and make the
place yet more livable and attractive.
The windows, also, are a detail
which should not he overlooked. Al
though the windows used here are at
tractive, an excellent effect could have
been had if they were so made that
the square paneled effect of the win
dows extended downwards to the cen
ter line: or the front windows could
be handled as French doors, opening
out on the terrnce.
This handling of the windows would
have some definite -effect upon the
decorative handling of the living room.
It ought to be a very light-finished
room; that is, the walls ought to have
a light-toned painted, 'kalsomined or
wallpaper covering. A plain cream or
gray would go very well, and with
long drapes at the window of some
contrasting color, would form a deco
rative setting for the room and Its
ther furnishings which would be at
tractive, indeed.
Observe that there is a window in
"be attic. This is a very small detail.
at one often overlooked. It has a
great deal to do with the comfort the
dwellers In this house can hn-p
not have in the hot days of
A glass window, easily opened” *
better still, a louvre window
could remain open all summer X?
without having to be watched ? 8
closing when there was rainy ° f
stormy weather, would help „ ea L® r
maintain a comfortable temperature °
the living rooms of the house a
Shrubbery is called for in the Ipm
scaping of a lot of any type or si™
and more so when there is a qnestin„
of making a house like this show !!
to the best advantage. Good landscarv
ing of the home lot can relieve a lot of
that impression of sameness which
many desire, in order to have their
particular place look truly individual
In the case of a house of this type'
which Is of no particular architectural’
period, but is simply sane and sensi
ble as to design, proper landscaping
with trees and shrubbery will bring
out all its good points and make it look
anything but plain.
FEWER CRUVIES OF VIOLENCE
Criminals Now Prefer Swindling to
Acts of Physical Brutality, Ac
cording to English Official.
Swindling has taken the place of vio
lence as the most prevalent type of
crime, says Sir Leonard Dunning, in
spector of constabulary for England.
“Crimes of violence have steadily
decreased for years,” says Sir Leon
ard in a report, “Modern crime is civ
ilized and educated because the crim
inal of today knows that it is far safer
and more profitable to swindle liun-
deeds than to rob one by knocking him
In the head.”
It lias been stated that there are
hundreds of professional criminals in
England whom the police are power
less to arrest. Many of these people
derive very large incomes by trading
upon tlie credulity of a certain section
of wealthy people. In the vast major,
ity of cases tlie criminals are never
prosecuted either because of the dif
ficulty of proving the fraud against
them or because the people victimized
do not want publicity.
One of the most popular means dur
ing the last few years lias been for
the criminal to gain entrance to vari
ous social affairs and make it a point
of being seen in the company of well
known people. Then they proceed to
organize entertainments, beg dona
tions for hospitals, and by other means
to raise large sums supposedly for tha
benefit of war veterans, but which
never get beyond the pocket of the or
ganizer. The police claim to ha' 9
knowledge of several hundreds of such
schemes but they are unable to act as
the victims refhse to appear in police
court.
Expressive, but Untimely.
I had moved to anew neighborhood,
and a Jewish neighbor had been par
ticularly kind to me. She came over
one afternoon, and as we were sitting
on my front porch, word came to n> 9
that some rugs which were to be de
livered that day would be Indefinite y
delayed. I was extremely annoyed an
exclaimed. “Well, don’t that beat tha
Jews!” —Exchange.
Retreat Good Policy.
One day I was in a drug store ,v “
■ a number of my girl friends.
! discussing a married lady of fifty
rather loudly, and the drug -
crowded. We suddenly turne .
the Indy whom we were so free-.'
cussing right behind ns and -ho
not have helped hearing ev
we said. Needless to say we btv
j hasty retreat. —Exchange.