1882.] QUESTION BOX. 225 



manure is very poor for sandy, light soils. It works admira- 

 bly on heavy soil. 



Question. How did sweet corn originate ? 



Prof. Brewer. Nobody knows when or where. That is 

 just what I would like to find out. Dr. Sturtevant thinks 

 sweet corn is the latest of the varieties. In the very earliest 

 descriptions of corn that we have, we find there were various 

 kinds. The earliest picture of corn that I know anything 

 about, the engraving of which was made in 1549 or '50, shows 

 several kinds. Tlie earliest writings about corn in Mexico 

 speak of several kinds. But Dr. Sturtevant, who has been 

 looking up the matter of sweet corn, says that he can find no 

 allusion whatever to it before the seed catalogues printed in 

 the early part of the present century. I have also been look- 

 ing up the authorities on the subject, and I have found no 

 allusion to sweet corn before the present century. I have not 

 the remotest idea where or when or how it originated, and if 

 anybody can throw any light upon it he will really do us a 

 favor by making it known. 



Recess until 7.30 p. m. 



15 



