MAIZE, or INDIAN CORN, the Zea Mays of botanists, a monocious grass of the natural order Graminaceæ (see BOTANY, p. 215), is a native of tropical America, found in its wild state in Paraguay and Chile. Like some others of the same order, its stamens and pistils are in different flowers on the same plant; the stamenerous flowers are borne on the top of the plant, and the pistilliferous ones proceed from the axils of the leaves. The leaves are broad, and are suspended from large rough sheaths which surround the stem. The ripe grains, which are regularly arranged in rows, the one above the other, are compressed at the sides and flattened at the top. Their colour is for the most part pale yellow; some, however, are white, some blood-red, some purple, and some party-coloured. A plant generally has two full ears, varying greatly in the number of grains. Some ears have been known to contain the enormous number of 800 grains. The height of the stems varies from 2 feet to 8 or 10. The floral envelope of the pistil flower is extensively used in Southern Europe for packing oranges and lemons; and the Spaniards of South America contrive, by rolling tobacco into small squares, cut from the thin covers of the grain, to fashion for themselves agreeable cigarettes. Paper of a very excellent quality has been manufactured from the perianths of the maize.
The cultivation of maize has, within the last century, increased to an enormous extent over the American continent, and throughout most parts of Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe. It requires but little labour for its cultivation, and forms an exceedingly wholesome and nutritive diet. Although deficient in gluten, it is nevertheless made into cakes in North America, which are very highly esteemed. Some have advocated the introduction of maize as one of our regular crops in this country; but agriculturists have hitherto been of opinion, that none of its varieties could be ripened in the ordinary seasons of these islands. (See AGRICULTURE, p. 313.) This supposition has recently been proved to be without foundation, by an experiment tried in the summer of 1850, by Mr Keene, on a crop of forty-day maize in St James's Park, London. The seed, which he had introduced from the Pyrenees, was put in the ground on the 24th May, and notwithstanding various drawbacks incidental to the locality, the crop was harvested on the 10th October, "the grain perfectly formed, full and ripe, and the cobs much finer than those grown on the Continent." (Year-Book of Facts for 1850, p. 246.) The amount of crop was at the rate of 50 bushels per acre, and the bread formed from it could be had in England at a cost of a halfpenny the pound. It is calculated that 30 acres of average soil, properly drained and sown with maize, would be worth £400. It is supposed, however, that in the present state of things, maize could be purchased in the home market at a less sum than it could be cultivated, seeing that it can be raised in Ohio at 6d. the bushel of 56 lb., at a good profit. About two-thirds of the maize crop of the Americans are grown for exportation. The quantities of Indian corn or maize entered for home consumption, and chargeable with duty as a British import during the past three years, were as follows:—In 1854, 1,358,380 qrs.; in 1855, 1,224,281 qrs.; in 1856, 1,788,212 qrs. The importation of Indian-corn meal during the same time was as follows:—In 1854, 55,963 cwt.; in 1855, 12,154 cwt.; in
Majesty 1856, 7885 cwts. (See CORN LAWS AND CORN TRADE, p. 395. See also a pamphlet entitled Facts for Farmers: Maize, its Culture and Uses, &c., Longman and Co.)
Majesty, a title of honour derived from the Romans, among whom majestas stood for the highest power and dignity of the people. Majesty was ascribed to the dictator, consul, and senate, and to persons or bodies vested with legislative power, in so far as they were the representatives of the sovereign public. At the fall of the republic, the name and dignity of majesty passed over to the emperors, and the title of dignitas was given to the magistrates. The attribute of majesty was not given to kings till much later. It was used first by the German emperors, and was introduced into France under Henry II., and into England under Henry VIII. The Emperor of Austria has the title of K. K. Majestät (Kaiserlich-Königliche-Majestät), Imperial Royal Majesty. The Pope conferred the title of Apostolical Majesty on Stephen, Duke of Hungary, and on Maria-Theresa; of Catholic Majesty on Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain; of Most Christian Majesty on the kings of France after Louis XI.; and of Most Faithful Majesty on the kings of Portugal after John V.
Majesty is now used conventionally as the title of European emperors and kings, with the exception of the Turkish Sultan, whose title is that of Highness.