^C'BEAT HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 537 



two-leaved, leaflets fleshy, svider above, trmicate, grooved at the top, '.^fy short ; 

 tlie stamens are three capillary filamentji; with aRthers sub-prisriiaL:<-, bifid, open- 

 ing at the top. The leiisnlfs in a very close spike below the inales, on tiis same 

 plant, covered with leaves ; cal3'X a one-flowered gkime, two-valved, perinaneiii ; 

 Valves roundish, thick, membranaceous at tiie edge, ciliate, enter thicker; co- 

 rolla a foiir-valved glume, valves unequal, membranaceous, hyaline, wide, siioit, 

 permanent ; tiie pistil has a ver}- small germ ; style filitbru), longest of a!l,-)5cn- 

 ilulous; stii^ma iunple, pubescent towards the tip; there is no pericarp ; the com- 

 rnon receptacle is very large, lorVg, five-cornered, marked with i\\e rows of trans- 

 verse excavations, in each of which two fruits are immersed, surrounded wiib 

 their proj)er calyx and corolla; seeds solitary, roundish, angular at the base^ 

 compressed, longer than the glumes, {jediceiied. There is ouly one species, ot" 

 which there are tliree varieties. 



MAYS. 



Frumentum imlunim mays dktuni. Sloane, v. 1, p, 105. Seminibhs 

 suh-compressis obovatis. Browne, p. 33o. 



This has a very large strong stalk, growing frequently ten or twelve feet high. The 

 leaves are long, broad, hang downward, and have a broad midrib. The stalk is jointed. 

 The male flowers are in branching spikes at the tops of the stalks, eight or ten inches 

 long : the females come out from the bottom of the leaves, en the side of the stalk, 

 disposed in a close, long, thick, spike, and are covered closely with thin sp ithes or 

 sheaths ; out of the end of these covers Isangs a small long bunch of threads. The ear 

 of tiie maiz yields a great quantity of grain. There arc commoidy from twelve to six- 

 teen rows of corn in the ear, containing from two hundred to two hundred and forty 

 grains, and, there being frequently three ears on one stem, it is a wonderful increase ' 

 , irom one seed. The grains are usually of a vellow colour, but sometimes the ears are 

 variegated with some red, blue, black, or striped grains. It is generally planted by 

 making small holes in the ground with pegs, at about two feet distance each way, and 

 two or three grains are put into each hole, and from four to five months afterwards the 

 ^corn is fit to be reaped. Though it may be planted at any time of the year, when thers 

 is rain, yet the spring is by far the best season. 



It is commonly cultivated throughout Jamaica, but thrives most luxuriantly, and 

 "and bears the largest grain, in the richer soils, and where the seasons are favourable, 

 li. is a heart}' wholesome food among the negroes, who make it into various messes, 

 according to their fancy. It is given to horses and mules, instead of oats, and to sheep 

 and poultry, in order to fatten them. It was probably brought from Guinea, where it 

 is said to require a hilly good soil, not subject to be overflown ; whereas the rice and 

 millet thrive best in low moist grounds. It is generally jilantcd liere a little before the 

 usual periods of the rainy seasons, though some plant it indiiTorently at any time, and 

 frequently fail ; but it is usual to get two crops in the year. It is laid in rows, at the 

 depth of three or four inches. As soon as it appears six inches above the surface, it is 

 weeded; and, when grown to a tolerable height, the earth is moulded up about the 

 roots. The ears are often gathered before they are thoroughly ripe ; and, being 

 roasted, form a dish known here by the name of viutton. The stalks are full of a sac- 

 charine juice, from which a syrup- may be made as sweet as sugar. These stalks are an 

 'escclieiit hearty fodder for cattle, and mav be stacked like those of the Guinea corn, 



X K fof 



