762 JAMAICA. 



ufe of labouring cattle in dry years. It ripens in three months from 

 the time of planting. 



79. Barbary Corn, or Millet. — Panicum Maurltanum, 



I have feen this growing extremely well in a gentleman's gar- 

 den on the South-fide. The grain refembled the Guiiiey corn, ex- 

 cept that it appeared fomewhat larger. It is perfedly adapted to 

 the foil and climate of this ifland, and will therefore become with- 

 out doubt more generally cultivated. The feed was brought from 

 Mogadore, a fea-port town on the coafl: of Morocco. 



80. Great Corn, or Indian Maize. — Zea. With yellow Grams, 



This is univerfally cultivated throughout the ifland ; but thrives 

 mofl luxuriantly, and bears the largefl grain, in the richer foils, and 

 where the feafons are favourable. It is a hearty, wholefome food 

 among the Negroes, who make it into various mefies, according to 

 their fancy. It is given to horfes and mules, inftead of oats,, and. 

 to (heap and poultry, in order to fatten them. 



- It was probably brought from Guiney, where it is faid to require 

 a hilly, good foil, not fubjedl to be over-flown ; whereas the rice 

 and millet thrive befl: in low, moifl: grounds. 



It is generally planted here a little before the ufual periods of the 

 rainy feafons, though Ibme plant it indifferently at any time, and 

 frequently fail ; but it is ufual to get two crops in the year. 



It is laid in rows, at the depth of three or four inches. As 

 foon as it appears fix inches above the furface, it is weeded ; and, 

 when grown to a tolerable height, the earth is moulded up about 

 the roots. 



The ears have from two hundred to two hundred and forty 

 grains; and, allowing three fpikes to each flem, and three flems to 

 one feed, the produce from each fingle grain is two thoufand for 

 one. They are often gathered before they are thoroughly ripe ; 

 and, being roafted, form a difh known here by the name of mutton»^ 

 The ilalks are full of a faccharine juice, from which a fyrup may 

 be made, as fweet as fiigar. Thefe flalks are an excellent, hearty 

 fodder for cattle, and may be flacked like thofe of the Guiney com, 

 for provifion in times of drought. This plant is thought to impo- 



verifh 



