. Bulletin. Natural history; Science. Folklore Regional folklore might also contribute to furttier understanding of tfie role of teosinte in prehistoric times. The Wilkes monograph clearly indicates this. It records that Lumholz, who traveled extensively in l\/lexico at the turn of the century and reported his observations in considerable detail, noted that in the Nobogame area teosinte growing in or near fields of corn was said to be "good for the ; Of course, it is easy to minimize the significance of such an assertion by assuming it to be an excuse for not making the effort t
. Bulletin. Natural history; Science. Folklore Regional folklore might also contribute to furttier understanding of tfie role of teosinte in prehistoric times. The Wilkes monograph clearly indicates this. It records that Lumholz, who traveled extensively in l\/lexico at the turn of the century and reported his observations in considerable detail, noted that in the Nobogame area teosinte growing in or near fields of corn was said to be "good for the ; Of course, it is easy to minimize the significance of such an assertion by assuming it to be an excuse for not making the effort to weed the interloper out of corn plantings. In fact, there is good evidence that teosinte can be "good for the ; Under primitive conditions of culture in which corn is grown in small areas, often relatively isolated from other corn, seed is saved from each crop for successive plantings. Inbreeding is thus intensified, and this we know reduces vigor and yields. If teosinte grows adjacent to or in such isolated plots, hybrids between it and corn occur. The frequency depends on a good many factors, such as relative times of pollination and spatial relations. When corn is pollinated by teosinte, the resulting hybrid kernels are usually indistinguishable from pure corn and thus may be chosen for planting. The resulting first-generation hybrid plants exhibit marked hybrid vigor. But, like Zea canine, the ears are small and undesirable and therefore will not be chosen as seed for the succeeding crop. However, these hybrid plants will have shed abundant pollen, which will be widely disseminated because of the plants' tallness and vigor. Thus the hybrids will be male parent in backcrosses to corn in the next generation. Some of the backcross product will be good corn showing marked hybrid vigor and increased yield. Second- and later generation backcrosses to corn result in an even Four cribs of corn on a page of tfie tribute lists of Montezuma, as sfiown in the Codex Men
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