structure. With this, a good cook, and well-worked base, we may throw to the 

 winds the physician's advice with regard to the avoiding the use of Green Corn 

 during cholera times. 



Like all other vegetables, this is the better with good drainage and deep tillage. 

 A well-broken, strong, but friable, fresh loam, in which is a due deposit of vege- 

 table matter, phosphate of lime, and ammoniacal salts, is the best. Where there is 

 a deficiency of any, or all of these, it will always be found that the addition of 

 vegetable matter, bone dust, or guano, separately or collectively, will have a great 

 influence on the productiveness and better quality of the grain. Every housewife 

 knows the difference in the cooking of ill or well-fed beef, and how far the want 

 of proper food makes the flesh tough and fibrous. The same applies to the escu- 

 lent which we are discussing ; for, according to the supply of constituent elements 

 during growth, so will the seeds shrink in boiling for the want of substance, or 

 swell up to distension by a redundancy. 



If the seeds of Corn are planted in the open ground before some solar heat has 

 been diffused into it, they are subject to rot ; consequently, it is best to wait until 

 the opportune time. In this latitude — 40° — this generally happens about the 

 middle of April. Further south, it will be earlier, and north, somewhat later, 

 according to distance or sheltered locality. We may, however, gain something 

 like ten days or two weeks, by planting a portion for the first crop in shallow 

 boxes under glass. In my present position, it is necessary to have an uninter- 

 rupted supply, commencing as early as possible, and continuing on until frost. 

 Being so, it may be well to record my own practice. At the beginning of March, 

 a number of rough boxes (three inches deep) are part filled with good earth ; the 

 seeds are laid on this four inches apart, and covered one inch. These boxes are 

 placed in a glass house where a night temperature of some 50° is maintained, or, 

 in lieu of such convenience, then, in a cold frame, the glasses of which are kept 

 closed at all times until the sprouts appear above ground ; they are also covered with 

 mats, at night, to make secure against frost. Air is afterwards given during the 

 middle part of all warm days, and, when there is no further fear of frost occurring, 

 the earth in the boxes is cut into square patches, each containing four young plants. 

 These are planted out four feet apart, in a sheltered situation. For the next suc- 

 cession, the seeds are planted on the ground level, at the same distance, after 

 making an even surface to lay them on, and afterwards covered two inches. This 

 process forms so many small mounds, and somewhat prevents the tendency to 

 decay, as the immediate soil is thereby rendered drier than it otherwise would be. 

 Throughout the summer, up to the middle of July, other plantings are put in, at 

 intervals of ten days or two weeks, two inches deep, below the surface, and the 

 soil filled in level. By this method, a supply of well-filled young Corn is obtained 

 for gathering every day, from the beginning or middle of July, according to the 

 earliness or lateness of the season, until frost occurs in the fall, and for some time 

 afterwards, as, when such is apprehended, a quantity is gathered, and laid in a 

 dry room, the husks being left on. 



Sweet Corn may also be preserved for winter use. For this purpose, when the 

 seeds are a trifle part in the milky state, but not quite ripe, strip off the heads with 

 the husks on, loosen the latter so as to admit the air freely to the seeds, and hang 

 them over a line, in a dry room, until all the moisture is evaporated. The apart- 

 ment must be very dry, however, or they will become mouldy and worthless. After- 

 wards the husks may be removed, and the cobs laid by until wanted. 



There are several varieties known as Sweet Corn, each possessing more or less 

 of good or indifferent quality. The best which I hare so far been able to obtain 

 nder the name of 



YoL. VII.— May, 1857. 15 



