The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1904-06-11
GIANT MAYBE
ATTRACTS ATTENTION


Hilario Cuevas. of San Luis So.
yatian. state of Jalisco, who is one
of the most progressive agricultu-
rists in Mexico, has been max
ing a study of the cultivation Of Z
species of corn which he calls the
giant maize, and some of the re.
suits of his observations are given
herewith.
In the first place said Mr..
Cuevas, the Characteristic quail
ties of the giant maize are equalled
by no other variety. 1t grows Eve
meters high, and for this reason
produces three times the amount
of fodder of any other variety, for
its leaves are broad and nearly two
yards in length. The thickness of
the stalk is in proportion to its
length. and the ear of enormous
dimensions.
The giant maize produces ears
up to half a yard in length and, in
some cases. even longer. The
abundance of leaves, which COM
pletely erivelop the plant, serve as
an excellent fodder, when they are
cut up by machinery, and as fod-
der, the maize is without an equal,
on account of the enormous pro-
duction of leaves. Under favor
able conditions, the giant maize.
which l have raised. will yield 400
bushels for every bushel of seed
planted. The whole of the grain
is OF, -four substance, and as its
production is immense the corn as
-four producer, is without an
equal. After grinding the maize
in the mills, tortillas can be inn
mediately made from it, without
necessitating the use of the nix
tamal or metate, thereby saving
time, labor, and money, and the
tortillas which are thus manufac-
tured, are far cleaner, whittier and
of much better taste. The eman-
cipation of FIVE millions of women
from the slavery of the metate will
result when the cultivation of this
maize is an established fact through
out this republic. which is a con-
dition hope to see in the immediate
future.
Il have known this corn for
sixty five years." continued Mr..
Cuevas, as it was cultivated on
my fathers farm when l was
boy, and 1 well remember how
climbed the stalk to reach the ears
in order to see if they were filed,
and this 1 did without damaging
the stalk. From my experience
with the giant maize since then, /
can state that it has not degenerat-
ed. Notwithstanding the fact that /
have placed the corn in a warm
where the soil is rich and
humid In moderate climate l
believe it is wise to plant the seed
at least month before the begin
ming of the rainy season, but where
the rains last up to November and
beyond, it may be planted at the
of the rainy season. In
Jalisco I planted some seeds on the
fifth of July, but as the rain ter
in October. the ears of this
corn were not well filled. Another
lot, however, which was planted
on the fifteenth of June produced
most excellent results. l would
recommend the planting of the
giant maize during the month of
April and May throughout
the region of the cotton zcne; which
comprises the states of Coahuila,
Durango, and the coasts of Sofa
vento and Barlovento, and also in
the valleys of the rivers of the re-
public.
The great advantages of this
maize is while other species of corn
are attacked by worms, as a result
of lack of rain, this plant is not
Srrbiect 70 ir1ityrv from, suSecfS