Corn: The Wonder Crop Quiz

Most people have heard of corn cob pipes, but did you know that early Americans used corn cobs in place of toilet paper? Don't think too badly of them. T.P. manufacturers weren't around back then!

Researchers believe that maize, also known as corn, was first domesticated in Mexico.

Corn flour -- which is actually finely ground cornmeal -- is naturally gluten-free. This is excellent news for anyone who can't tolerate gluten, such as people with celiac disease.

Moonshine runners need not look farther than their own pantries for the necessary ingredients of this harsh alcohol. Typical ingredients include corn, sugar, water and yeast.

Not surprisingly, tortilla chips are made from tortillas! Simply cut tortillas in triangles and fry them in a deep pan with some cooking oil. Allow the chips to dry, add a dash of salt and serve alongside some spicy salsa!

Expert chefs recommend that corn be placed on the grill with husk and silk still intact. The ears should be turned regularly and cooked for about 20 minutes. Be sure to allow them to cool off before removing the husk!

No question about it, summertime is when corn is officially "in season," which makes it cheaper and more plentiful than during other times of the year.

Early Native Americans started cultivating corn between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago.

Considering the fact that corn appreciates warm, sunny temperatures, it makes sense that Antarctica isn't a prime growing location!

With an ideal climate and enthusiastic agricultural community, it's not surprising that the U.S. produces more corn than any other country in the world.

Extensive research has yielded three types of corn that are currently produced in the U.S., and bitter is not one of them! In order of sweetness, they are: normal sugary, sugar-enhanced and super sweet, which is the most commonly grown type.

Corn doesn't necessarily have to be cooked to be enjoyed! Plenty of corn connoisseurs enjoy salsas and salads featuring delicious raw corn.

Corn mazes are very popular during the fall months, particularly among families. Often, farms that offer corn mazes also feature pumpkin patches and hayrides!

Corn is a mulch-talented product! It's used in products like sweetener, animal feed and even car fuel. In fact, only 1 percent of the corn grown is eaten.

American farmers are currently producing more corn than ever before, with 2010 being the fourth year in a row that production exceeded 12 billion bushels. That's a whole lot of corn!

There are approximately 300,000 corn farmers currently active in the U.S. That might sound like a lot, but there are more than 300 million people in the country!

The 1984 horror film "Children of the Corn" (based on the Stephen King short story) spawned several film and television sequels.

Believe it or not, corn is a vegetable if harvested while still juicy and edible and a grain if harvested after it's already dried out. It's also technically considered a fruit because it's actually the dried fruit of a plant, although some people dispute one or more of these categorizations.

Of course, every ear of corn varies in size, but the average sample contains 800 kernels in about 16 rows.

Fuel made with corn helps gasoline burn more cleanly. It's also much better for the environment in terms of air and water pollution.