CtlLTtfRE OF 1^'DIA^ CORN, 



Culture or Lvdian Corn. 



75 



This plant is believed to be a native of America, and is well 

 adapted to every part of the country, that has hitherto been ex- 

 plored. This grain presents at this time a great number of va- 

 rieties, which are distinguished from each other by the color 

 and size of the grain ; by the number of rows on the cob ; by 

 the leno-th of time they respectively take m ripening, and by 

 the detn-ee of hardness acquired by them. Some are white, 

 and others black; some are yellow, and others are brown, or 

 red, or violet. Some have cobs twelve inches long, studed with 

 twelve rows of large grains ; while others have only six rows, 

 or a cob three inches long, and covered with grains even smal- 

 ler than pepper corns. Some again are five months m ripen- 

 ing, while others are soft, and even succulent, and cannot long 

 be preserved, but by means of artificial heat. The small, trom 

 its ripening soon, and the soft, from its greater tenderness, are 

 most valuable in garden culture, and least valuable in com- 

 merce. It is thought no one of these varieties car. ce said 

 much to excel all tlie others, because the difference in climate, 

 soil, and culture, may, and probably has differently affected the 

 growtii and produce cf the different varieties. 



A change of seed with this grain, as with others, is expedi- 

 ent, and it'is said that a change of seeds grown in different 

 soils is better ; and that changes ought to be from east to west, 

 or from west to east, and not from north to south, or from south 

 to north. Where the crop is raised on low grounds, which are 

 subject to early frosts, the seed should be brought from the 

 northward, that it may ripen before the frosts. It is believed 

 that the longest ears and largest grains will yield the most. 



It has been observed by a respectable farmer that he had 

 found his crop of corn consideiably increased by procuring iiis 

 seed from different parts of the country, and mixing it. 



With respect to the proper time for planting Indian corn, no 

 invariable rule can be given ; the farmer has to take into con- 

 sideralion the peculiarities of the season at the time of plant- 

 ing, as also the climate, and calculate as correctly as he can, 

 so as to give the crop time to ripen before it is exposed to the 

 frosts. From the 1.5th of May to the 1st of June, varying accord- 

 ing to the variety of season and climate, arQ the most usual times 

 throughout New-England.* 



* For other remarks respecting the efficacy and application of 

 manures proper for this plant, see essay on manures. 



