152 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



grai:n^ and grass seed. 



DEERFIELD VALLEY. 



From the Rejyort of the Committee. 



Your Committee were struck with the fact that no traces 

 of seed-corn, often or more rows, were on exhibition ; while 

 a few years since these flint-corns were raised extensively. 

 The farmers, it seems, have returned to the old eight-rowed 

 corn, with its improvement in quality, and we think it a wise 

 return, for the following reasons : The flint-corns are more 

 indigestible, and contain less animal nutriment per one hun- 

 dred pounds, than eight-rowed corn. The mice and squirrels 

 always knew this. They let flint-corn alone, if they find eight- 

 rowed corn enough. The chit contains a large percentage of 

 the nutriment of corn. This, too, the mice and squirrels always 

 knew. With animals that can gnaw through a plank, the 

 reason for eating only the chit is not a want of power to mas- 

 ticate the harder portion of the kernel, but a reason, Ave 

 think, allied to the reason why they eat the meat of the 

 walnut, and reject the shell. The chit of the eight-rowed corn 

 is much larger than in the flint varieties. Hence we and the 

 squirrels give it the preference. The want of plant-nutriment 

 is another objection. The chit contains the germ of the 

 future plant, and the nourishment which feeds it for a season. 

 The chit of the flint varieties is exceedingly small. Hence 

 the slender, sickly appearance of the blade. Therefore, we 

 recommend the large-chitted, eight-rowed corn, which has the 

 germ of a robust, vigorous blade, and nutriment, for the 

 vigorous growth of that blade, till its leaves expand to the 

 atmosphere, and its roots strike into the earth, and it draws 

 its nourishment from the elements. Again, the large stems 

 in husking and moulding in the bin, as also the hard, Avoody 



