Very interesting thread. It seems corn was in the Americas first Columbus brought it to Europe. Corn as we know it does not occur naturally. Native
Americans developed corn at least 7000 years ago from teosinte, a wild grass.
www.campsilos.org...
I find the man corn connection fascinating. Imo most ancient cultures practiced human sacrifice/cannibalism.
As far as an ear of corn reaped in silence. This does seem to refer to a solemn ceremony. By the way corn is probably the noisiest crop to pick.
You've got to rip the ear off the tough stalk not like picking berries or tomatoes.