The European Corn-Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) is a moth of the family Pyralidea with a wing span of between 26 and 30 mm, native to Europe but introduced through maize exports to the rest of the world, where it is a serious agricultural pest. In temperate zones two generations are produced, in tropical zones as many as six generations may be produced. The moths fly from May to September. Research European Corn-Borer
The gingko are coniferous trees of the genus Salisburia belonging to the yew family and which are native to China and Japan. The Salisburia adiantifolia is a tree which sometimes rises nearly 100 feet in height. It is destitute of resin. It is a native of China and Japan, and was introduced into Europe in 1754, when it was brought to England. Its fruit incloses a kernel which, when roasted, may be used as food, and which tastes like maize. Research Gingko
Grass (Graminaceae) is an extensive family of endogenous plants comprising about 250 genera and 4500 species. The roots are fibrous; the stem is usually cylindrical and jointed varying length from a few centimetres to 30 metres in the case of the bamboo, (in the sugar-cane the stem is solid, but porous), and coated with silex; leaves, one to each node or joint, with a sheathing petiole; spikelets terminal, panicled, racemose, or spiked; flowers hermaphrodite or polygamous, destitute of true calyx or corolla, surrounded by a double set of bracts, the outer constituting the glumes, the inner the paleoe; stamens hypogynous, three or six; filaments long and flaccid; anthers versatile; ovary solitary, simple, with two (rarely three) styles, one-celled, with a single ovule; fruit known as a caryopsis, the seed and the pericarp being inseparable from each other.. The family includes many of the most valuable pasture-plants, all those which yield corn and the sugar-cane. The nutritious herbage and farinaceous seed furnished by many of them render them of incalculable importance, while the stems and leaves are useful for various textile and other purposes.
The more important divisions of the natural order of grasses are: (1) Panicaceoe, including the Paniceoe (millet, fundi, Guinea grass); the Andropogoneoe (sugar-cane, dhurra, lemon-grass) ; the Rottboellieoe (gama-grass); etc. (2) Phalarideoe (maize, Job's tears, canary-grass, foxtail-grass, soft-grass, Timothy grass). (3) Poaceoe, including the Oryzeoe (rice); Stipeoe (feather-grass, esparto); Agrosteoe (bent-grass); Aveneoe (oats, vernal grass); Festuceoe (fescue, meadow-grass, manna-grass, teff, cock's-foot grass, tussac grass, dog's-tail grass); Bambtiseoe (bamboo); Hordeoe (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, rye-grass, lyme-grass).
In its popular use the term grasses is chiefly applied to the pasture grasses as distinct from the cereals, etc. but it is also applied to some herbs, which are not in any strict sense grasses at all, e.g. rib-grass, scurvy and whitlow grass. After the culture of herbage and forage plants became an important branch of husbandry, it became customary to call the clovers, trefoils, sainfoin, and other flowering plants grown as fodder, artificial grasses, by way of distinction from the grasses proper, which were termed natural grasses. Of the pasture grasses, some thrive in meadows, others in marshes, on upland fields, or on bleak hills, and they by no means grow indiscriminately. Indeed the species of grass will often indicate the quality of the soil; thus, Holcus, Dactylis, and Bromus are found on sterile land, Festuca and Alopecurus on a better soil, Poa and Cynosurus are only found in the best pasture land. Research Grass
Maize or Indian Corn or Sweetcorn (Zea mays) is a true grass and is only known in the cultivated state. It is indigenous in tropical America and has been cultivated for ages in Asiatic islands under the equator, from whence it passed northward to China and westward toward to India and Turkey. It is monoecious, producing beautifully tasselled male flowers; and the female flowers, which develop the 'cobs' are found closely applied to the central axils of the leaves below. Research Maize
The Bamum (Mum, Mom) are a sedentary people of West Africa centred around Foumban in Cameroon. They are primarily farmers, who conduct a little fishing and less hunting, growing chiefly maize, millet, cassava and sweet potatoes. Research Bamum
The Chunchos are an aboriginal tribe of Indians living in the wooded parts of eastern Peru where they raise crops of maize, yuccas, plantains and pineapples. They live in large huts containing three or four family groups and are ruled by hereditary chiefs. Research Chunchos
The Creek Indians (Muskogee) are an aboriginal North American people of the Muskogean family who originally lived on the Flint, Chattahoochee, Coosa and Alabama Rivers and in the peninsular of Florida. The Muskogee were called the Creeks by the British in allusion to their villages being located close to rivers and creeks. They were farmers planting maize, beans, millet, tobacco and sunflowers, hunters who hunted deer and bison in the west, and gatherers who collected and stored nuts and wild fruits. The Creek Indians lived in settlements comprising a main town surrounded by small villages. The main town contained a 'square' where public and religious gatherings were held. The houses were originally built of logs with mud or thatched roofs, later the styles of frontier home built by the Europeans were adopted.
During the 17th century attacks by Europeans had decimated many of the coastal dwelling Creek people, but it was not until the overthrow of the French that they came completely under English influence. During the American War of Independence the Creeks joined the British, assisting in an attack on Wayne's army in 1782. In 1790 they made a friendly treaty, but renewed hostilities in 1792. Another treaty was made in 1796 and in 1802 and 1805 they began to cedelands. Joining the English in the American War of 1812, they attacked Fort Mimms on August the 30th 1813 and massacred 400 people. The Creek Indians suffered repeated defeats, and were completely overthrown by General Jackson at Horseshoe Bend on March the 27th 1814. A peace treaty followed in which the Creeks surrendered large tracts of land. Early in the 19th century a part of the Creeks removed to Louisiana and later to Texas. A treaty was made on 1825 by William McIntosh, a mixed bloodCreek of a Scottish father and Creek mother ceding more lands which resulted in his murder for 'selling the graves of the ancestors' and the treaty was repudiated. The Creeknation then divided, one party favouring emigration, the other opposing it. In 1836 a part aided the US Government against the Seminole Indians, but the remainder attacked the frontier towns of Georgia and Alabama. General Scott killed large numbers of the Creek Indians and the survivors were removed to a reservation between the Arkansas and the Canadian. The American Civil War again divided the tribe, those supporting the Union being defeated by those supporting the Confederacy. In 1866 the Creeklands were further reduced with a large tract being ceded to the US Government. Research Creek Indians
The Kalapalo are an Indian tribe of Brazil. They are fishermen, hunters and farmers, clearing the jungle to grow crops of cassava and maize. Research Kalapalo
The Kuikuro are an Indian tribe of Brazil. They are fishermen, hunters and farmers, clearing the jungle to grow crops of cassava and maize. Research Kuikuro
The Pequot were an Algonquin tribe of North American Indians occupying eastern Connecticut where they lived by hunting, fishing, gathering and raising maize. They entered into a treaty with the colonists at Boston in 1634, but soon became hostile. Expeditions were sent against them and they in turn attacked Wethersfield and killed many settlers. In 1637, an expedition under Mason surprised the Indians at a fort near the presentGroton, Connecticut. A desperate struggle followed in which the Indians were overcome with great loss. The remnant was nearly annihilated in a subsequent battle at Fairfieldswamp. Many were sent as slaves to the West Indies. A few survived and obtained two land grants from the British. One surviving group operates a successful casino today at Ledyard. Research Pequot
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research European Corn-Borer
