136 



FLORA'S LEXICON. 



AIZE, or INDIAN CORN. Zea mays. Class 

 21, MONCECIA. Order: TRIANDRIA. The 

 native country of this valuable grain remains 

 still undetermined. It is usually attributed 

 to America, where it was cultivated by the 

 aborigines at the time of the discovery ; but 

 no botanist has hitherto found it growing 

 wild in any part of the new continent ; and most certainly it 

 does not so exist in any portion of the territory of the United 

 States. It is also certain that its culture did not attract notice 

 in Europe, Asia, or the north of Africa, till after the voyage of 

 Columbus. 



PLENTY. 



In the young merry time of spring, 



When clover 'gins to burst; 

 When blue-bells nod within the wood, 



And sweet May whitens first; 

 When merle and mavis sing their fill, 

 Green is the young corn on the hill. 



But when the merry spring is past, 



And summer groweth bold, 

 And in the garden and the field 



A thousand flowers unfold ; 

 Before a green leaf yet is sere, 

 The young corn shoots into the ear. 



When on the breath of autumn breeze, 

 From pastures dry and brown, 



Goes floating, like an idle thought, 

 The fair, white thistle-down ; 



O, then what joy to walk at will. 



Upon the golden harvest-hill. 



Ho WITT. 



