112 On the Cullure of Indian Corn, &e. 
whence the successional erops were derived. An intelligent 
practical farmer in Holderness informed me he had succeeded 
in rearing Indian corn in an unsheltered and exposed situation, 
and that the seed thus obtained grew freely. In the North of 
Italy, the growers of maize twitch off the tops of the plants as 
soon as the male flowers have done their part, and this is allowed 
to aceelerate the expansion and ripening of the seeds. 
In the Neapolitan kingdom they possess a species or variety 
of the Indian corn, called Mellica quarantina, which is sown 
as a successional crop after the wheats are reaped. It is pre- 
sumed ripe for the sickle in forty days, aud from this circum- 
stance receives its specific distinction. This yariety of maize 
seems admirably adapted for the short season of our summer. I 
can have no doubt whatever of its capability of being naturalized 
to this climate. By some preparative, as steeping the corn in 
water of a genial warmth, ere it is committed to the earth, we 
tight determine promptly the germinative powers, and anticipate 
in some measure the period requisite for its full and perfect de- 
velopment. Mr. Knight has with his usual acuteness and saga- 
city insisted en the importance (in eases of exotic plants) of an 
instant stimulus of increased temperature, and he very judiciously 
appeals to what can be accomplished by a short Canadian sum- 
mer, to prove the correctness of his views —I take it that we 
suffer most in the sudden transit from the chills of night to the 
blaze of sunshine, and that if practicable we should screen our 
wall trees, &c. by brushwood (and it is astonishing how small a 
matter will accomplish the purpose in question), not only as a de- 
fence from the loss of temperature sustained by radiation in a 
climate, where the period, at night, in relation to the thermo- 
meter alove the freexing point, forms so small a fraetion of the 
year. I am glad to see so much science enlisted into the ser- 
vice of argiculture and horticulture as we find in the persons of 
Sir Humphry Davy, Mr. Knight, &c. and it augurs well for their 
further advancement. The nutritious properties of Indian corn 
remain undoubted, 
Permit me to add, that I think it singular Mi//et should not 
be attempted as a green crop for cattle, if not for its seeds. It 
is very generally cultivated in Tuscany, and cat down, while still 
unripe, as food for cattle. I have reared it for my amusement, 
and thus know it to be equally hardy with Canary-grass ;- conse- 
quently may be cultivated for the purpose in question. In the 
Southern counties of England, | doubt not it might profitably 
suceeed the crops of wheat. 
There is cultivated in Italy, particularly about Cremona, a vay 
riety of flax called Lino monochino, obtained originally, I believe, 
from Bavaria, It is esteemed much superior to any other, and 
possesses 
