March t, 16(0 ) 



JOURNAL OP lIORnCULTURB AND COrTAGE GARDENER. 



1&5 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



MARCH 4—10, 1869. 



UceliDg o! Royal andLlnnenn Societlis. 



ni>yal IlorticnUarul Society, rroiuennJo. 

 4 Sunday in Lent. [-.iW i' M. 



Meeting of Royal Geojjrapliicftl Society, 

 MectiDit of Institute of Civil Ensiijcer!^. 

 MtetiDg of Society of Art^ and Roynl 

 [Microscopical Society. 8 I'.M, 



Avcraco Tomperature. 

 near London, 



Rain in 



las; 

 42 years. 



Day. 



40.5 

 48.7 

 4H.0 

 49.0 

 40.2 

 49U 

 49.U 



Nicht 



ail 



31.5 

 32.3 

 a-2.8 

 815 

 Sl.O 

 S1.7 



40.S 

 4S.1 

 40.4 

 4l).7 

 4'l.4 

 40.1 

 40 6 



Duya. 

 It 

 10 



1« 



17 

 18 

 12 

 16 



Snn 

 Riaua. 



m. h 

 42al(> 

 4) G 



Hun 

 aela. 



III. fa. 

 43a<G 



44 5 



4ti 5 



48 5 



60 5 



51 6 



63 S 



Moon 

 RiBca. 



I 



Moon 



Sets. 



m. fa. 

 "laf 



m. h. 



55afl 



; b8 K 



16 11 



' after. 

 1 5S 

 I 56 1 

 I B7 2 



Moon'a 

 Age. 



Days. 



^' 



•2!$ 

 24 

 25 

 26 

 37 



Clock 1 Day 

 before j oi 

 3nn. 1 yciur. 



67 

 68 



I'rom observations taken near London during tho last fortvtwo years, the average day temperature of the week is 49.1 : nni 

 temperature 31.6". The greatest heat was 70', on the 4th, ISUO ; and the lowest cold T, on the lOlh, 1»47. The greatest fall of 

 0.60 inch. 



its night 

 rain was 



INDIAN MAIZE AS A GARDEN ESCULENT. 



f^'r^^ AIZE, or Indian Com, tliough constituting 

 in various forms the staple food of a large 

 portion of tlic inhabitanls of tropical and 

 semi-tropinal countries, as well as of their 

 cattle, is comparatively unknown in these 

 northern latitudes. The coarse yellow va- 

 riety is that which alone appears in com- 

 merce, and then only for feeding horses and 

 poultry; for these it is well adapted, but 

 not better than other fond as easily procur- 

 able. Sometimes wheaten bread is adulterated with yellow 

 Maize, and this is the least objectionable of such practices. 

 Maize, however, eaten in a green state, as many other 

 ▼aluable and popular esculents are, is a thing almost un- 

 heard of here. This is a loss to us, for it is extremely 

 nutritious, and profitable to grow for such a purpose ; it 

 would also supply certain links in the succession of such 

 delicate vegetables as green Peas, Kidney Beans, &c. But 

 in order to enjoy it in perfection it is necessary to culti- 

 vate those select varieties which in warmer countries are 

 used for table purposes, for the common yellow is unfit for 

 them. There are many more of these varieties than I 

 think most readers of these pages have ever seen, includ- 

 ing oven those who reside in our colonies, and others. I 

 am anxious, therefore, to make known the results of a 

 very successful trial which I made of no less than twenty 

 varieties of Indian Maize, which were kindly chosen for 

 me by tlie American Commissioner at the Paris Exhibition. 

 as I think it is certain that so complete or beautiful a 

 collection was never before sent to Europe (such is the 

 testimony of numbers who saw the seed), and as the 

 growth and perfect maturity of the kinds shown quite 

 equalled those of their original state, it would be a matter 

 of regret if this opportunity, which is not likely again to 

 occur, were now lost. Of course, some varieties will in 

 time be eliminated from the collection, and others be found 

 unsuitable for colder localities, but out of a succession of 

 so many, a good number ought eventually to be found use- 

 ful and valuable. 



I had at first determined to distribute the seeds to 

 friends, but reflecting on the doubtful results which might 

 have arisen from such an uncertain method, I have trans- 

 ferred them to Messrs. Barr & Sugden, of Covent Garden, 

 whoso former experience in this very esculent rendered 

 tliem tlie fittest to undertake the task. I trust that this 

 summer -will not pass without some practical amateurs 

 taking up the matter, and reoordiug their experience 

 thereon. Many of our visitors witnessed the beautiful 

 plants, varying from 3 to 10 feet in height, with their long 

 leaves forming very ornamental objects, and adapted for 

 subtropical eQects. I am told that the height of 10 feet 

 is unsurpassed in China, .Japan, or Australia. This may 

 be because the varieties generally cultivated in these 

 countries are not so carefully selected as these, which 

 represent a selection from the whole of the United States. 

 A friend, resident here at present. Colonel .T. Lewis Peyton, 

 a large landed proprietor in Virginia, also declared to me 



No. 114.— Vol., XVI., New SEEa:e. 



that the size of the cobs and the perfect ripeness of the 

 seeds were remarkable. 



Among the twenty distinct varieties were cobs of many 

 colours and shades, ranging from the large pure white of 

 Georgia, which is so prized for flavour, through shades of 

 yellow to tawny ; others were of a bright red, some of an 

 indigo blue, and a number ^^ere of mixed colours. ITie 

 sizes varied remarkably from the little peail-like " pop 

 com," which is such a favourite with confectioners in 

 America, and which only grows to the height of 3 feei:, 

 with small compact cobs, ripening early in September, to 

 the huge red Corn having cobs weighing 1.0 or 16 ozs., and 

 18 inches long by ■! in diameter. A good idea of the 

 value of the last may be obtained, when I state that the 

 finest cob I could select of the best Algerian Yellow Maize 

 grown in a garden here by a colonist well acquainted with 

 its habits, only reached 5 ozs. Both varieties ripened within 

 a week of each other. Other pure white Corn cobs were 

 even longer than this red sort, and not very much inferior 

 in weight. Some other cobs were of a dark mulberry 

 colour, and composed of small closely-set grains, orna- 

 mental enough for conservatory purposes, eapecially when 

 contrasted with cobs, some of a fine blue, and others of a 

 pale yellow. Several sorts ripened in October, and might 

 not succeed so well here. I was never weary of admiring 

 the plants while in growth, and hope others may have a 

 similar pleasure. One or two in a lai-ge orchard house 

 would relieve the stiflness of the foliage, and thus supply 

 seed in cold localities. 



But I must not trespass on the space here, and hasten 

 to add some remarks on culture, which is, however, very 

 simple. 



In my case, failing to obtain any precise data, I plante<l 

 in rows at 30 inches interval, the seeds being only 13 inches 

 apart. Possibly single rows at greater intervals, with vege- 

 tables growing between, would do better ; or the Australian 

 method of plants in a triangular manner (which is only 

 needed in windy places, so as to insert a stake between 

 each three plants), might be preferred. In such a stormy 

 island as this stakes at each end of the row, with cords of 

 spun yarn interlacing the plants, were used. With this 

 protection, my beautil'ul plants bent their heads without 

 the least injury before squalls of .(0 lbs. pressure to the 

 square foot. Tliis was in August, when a heavy-laden 

 cutter was driven ashore, and the crew owed their safety 

 to its being daylight, and so being able to see their course. 



My soil being heavy, and my not having had previous 

 experience, it was not sufiicieuily enriched. I am told 

 that where sewage was used Maize made wonderful pro- 

 gress at Barking Creek Farm. Nor was I able to water 

 the plants during the dry season of last year, though from 

 the great heat watering was desirable. The plants were 

 twice ridged up. 



The cobs should be used as a delicate table esculent 

 when well grown. In New York they are often boiled 

 enclosed in one thickness of the husks, the ends being 

 tied, and are ready for use according to the age of the cob^ 

 Some salt is usually added to the water m boiling, and 

 but'er. with salt, is spread over the cob. Served in this 



yc. lOef .— Vol . 5L1., Old Series 



