On ihe Cultivation of Maize. 433 
the surface of the water, the reflected image that was seen when 
the glass was placed above, would appear quite confused and in- 
distinct, on account of the great dispersion of the reflected rays, 
while the other seen with the glass held Jelow the eye would be 
comparatively little affected. Now this, which is explained in 
the most satisfactory manver by the laws of reflection and re- 
fraction, is quite irreconcileable with Dr. R.’s hypothesis; and it 
would be easy to point out abundance of other examples where 
it is equally inconsistent. What Dr. R. has observed with re- 
gard to the appearances of the two images, is nothing more than 
one of the many analogical relations that may be observed be- 
tween the laws of refraction and reflection, but furnishes not the 
slightest proof of their identity. 
As to what follows in the remaining part of the paper, it is 
merely an extension of the same principle which he deduces from 
the above experiment: consequently I do not, at present, consi- 
der it entitled to any further consideration. 
I am, sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
‘Portsmouth, Nov. 13, 1821. Cua. Stark. 
LXXXVII. Thoughts on the Cultivation of Maize as a green 
Crop, to come in late in the Summer and Autumn. By 
A Practicat and EXPERIMENTAL FARMER. 
IL, is only in particular seasons, and in favourable situations, that 
Indian corn or Maize is ever known to ripen its seed in this cli- 
mate, except by artificial means: every attempt, therefore, to 
naturalize and cultivate it, so as to produce a profitable crop of 
grain, will, it is to be feared, prove abortive. ‘There is one pur- 
pose, however, for which we have reason to believe that its cul- 
tivation might be adopted by the English farmer, especially the 
cottage farmer, and with considerable advantages. 1 mean as 
an article of green food, in the place of spring tares or buck- 
wheat. There are few annual plants of such rapid and luxuriant 
growth, and none by which it is exceeded, the sugar-cane ex- 
cepted, in nutritious properties. So much, indeed, does it abound 
with saccharine matter, that it is no very uncommon practice, as 
1 have been informed, in some parts of America to extract sugar 
from it. ‘There are, it seems, several varieties of this plant, dif- 
fering in the colour of the seed, their times of ripening, and in 
the luxuriance of their growth. It is unnecessary to say, that 
for the purpose for which it is here suggested, the last property 
ought certainly to be preferred, unless, indeed, it is slower in 
coming to maturity than the other varieties. The price of maize 
Vol. 58. No, 284. Dec, 1821. 31 in 
