AGRICULTURAL TEXT-COOK. Ill 



Froln these facts it will be perceived how important it is that 

 the farmer should study the adaptation of variety to the pur 

 pose intended in consumption. If he wishes to give young an 

 imals large bones, let him feed them on Sweet Corn; but at the 

 same time manure the soil with dissolved bones, or other phos 

 phate-bearing manures. He would endeavor in vain to fatten 

 animals with the Tuscarora, as it contains no oil, while it makes 

 the best bread, and is peculiarly adapted for the manufacture of 

 corn starch. Again, the hard northern gluten-bearing corns 

 are better for working animals than the southern-starch bearing 

 varieties, though the latter, independent of the oil, will make 

 most fat, the former most flesh. An accurate analysis of all 

 varieties grown in the United States would be of great pecuni 

 ary value to the country. 



277. The varieties of corn are generally distinguished by 

 (a,) the number of rows of grain in the ear, as eight, twelve, 

 fourteen, and sixteen-rowed ; or by (b,) the color, as white, yel 

 low, brown, &c., but none of the common divisions are either 

 accurate or scientific. It were useless to recite the names of 

 the many varieties, the more especially as they are constantly 

 changing by hybridizing. It may be noticed that northern 

 com will improve, if removed southwards, in size and product 

 iveness, but southern corn taken to the north will either not 

 ripen at all, or soon degenerate. 



The origin of Su-eet Corn is unknown, but it appears to have been 

 Used by the Indians of New England before the arrival of the Pilgrims, 

 It appears like an unripe grain ; and contains an unusually large pro 

 portion of the Phosphates, and a large quantity of sugar and gum with 

 but little starch ; while the stalks, being small, take up a less propor 

 tion of the saline matters of ihe soil. 



278. The qualities desirable in a good variety differ accord 

 ing to the soil and climate. In the Central and Southern 

 States the following may be laid down as peculiarities to be 

 attained : (a,) good growth of stalk and leaf; (b,) several ears 



