130 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



more economically done by first cutting (or what is better, by 

 both cutting and grinding, which may be accomplished by a re- 

 cently invented machine,) and then mixed either with roots or 

 meal. When fodder is high, the stalks and leaves will repay 

 the expense of cultivation. 



CORN FOR SOILING. Corn has recently been much culti- 

 vated for fodder, and for this purpose the soil should be in high 

 condition and well pulverized. It should be prepared in a 

 pickle of salt petre like that intended fpr ripening, and may 

 be sown broadcast and harrowed in at the rate of 3 or 4 bush- 

 els per acre. A much better method is to sow thickly in drills, 

 and stir the ground with a light plow or cultivator. The sow- 

 ing may be done early or late, though the first is most success, 

 ful. It should be cut before the frosts touch it, and dried pre- 

 vious to housing. Several tons of excellent forage have been 

 raised from a single acre. In the report of Mr. Leak to the 

 Pedee Agricultural Society of South Carolina, it is asserted 

 that 138,810 Ibs. of green corn stalks have been cut from one 

 acre in a season, weighing when dry. 27,297 Ibs. 



THE USES OF CORN in this country are various. It is large- 

 ly fed to fattening and working animals, but must be judicious- 

 ly fed to the latter and only in cool weather. It is exten- 

 sively manufactured into high-wines and whiskey, (a sad per- 

 version of one of the best gifts of nature.) It is converted 

 into oil, molasses and sugar to a very limited extent, and is 

 variously and largely applied to domestic uses. While green 

 it is boiled and roasted in the ear ; or it is cut from the cob 

 and cooked with the garden or kidney bean, which forms the 

 Indian succotash. When ripe, it is hulled in a weak ley, 

 then boiled and known as hulled corn ; or parched over a hot 

 fire, affording a delicious lunch and a convenient provision for 

 hunters as popped corn. Hommony or samp, is a favorite 

 dish, and consists of corn coarsely ground and boiled in wa- 

 ter ; and hasty pudding differs from this in being made of fine 

 meal. The meal may be compounded with milk and eggs into 

 jonny cakes, puddings, griddles and other delicacies univer- 

 sally esteemed for the table. 



RICE (Oryza sativa.} 



Contributes directly to the support of a larger number of 

 the human family than any other plant. In China, and 

 nearly the whole length of the southern part of Asia, through 

 the innumerable and densely populated islands of the Pacific 

 and Indian Oceans, in the southern part of Europe, and a large 



