764 JAMAICA. 



is laid up in a granary, care is taken to keep it from dampnefs, and 

 turn it occafionally. 



This corn does not make a good bread by itfelf; but, if the flour 

 of it is mixed in the proportion of one pint to three pints of wheat- 

 flour, it will anfwer for common ufe. The dough made with it is 

 Vjiry heavy, and fermented with difficulty. 



The Negroes parch and grind it into powder, fometimes mixing 

 a little fugar with it. They efteem it a dainty, and particularly 

 convenient on a long journey. 



But the more common way of ufing it is in puddings, after it 

 has been well pounded in a wooden mortar. 



All creatures fed with this corn have firm, fat flefh. The pork 

 of corn-fed hogs is efl:eemed tlie finefl: in the world for flavour and 

 goodnefs ; the horfes, cattle, and mules, foddered on the leaves and 

 hulks, are hardy, and enabled to go through the greateft degree of 

 labour ; and tfie people, who make the grain a principal part of 

 their diet, are healthy, ftrong, and adlive. 



The ears of it, while it is growing, are faid to be greatly 

 hurt by cutting off the panicles, or beards, too late. They ought 

 to be cut before the hoods, or hulks, open ; and, by leaving a plant 

 with its male ears at every twenty feet diftance, all the female 

 plants will be impregnated. 



The meafure, ufed here for fale of this corn in the grain, is the 

 common Winchefter bufliel, of eight gallons. The price feldom 

 varies much, being generally from 5^. to 6^, 3^^. currency, or 

 flerling 3 j. 6l d. to 4J. 5^., per bufliei. What is imported from 

 North-America is chiefly of the white, large, flat grain ; which is 

 fold cheaper, but is reckoned far inferior in fubflance and goodnefs 

 to the Jamaica product. In times of great fcarcity, it has rifen to 

 10 J. per bufliel ; which ferves to fhew the advantage to be derived 

 from a more extenfive cultivation of it in the ifland, as the failure 

 of importation from North-America always caufes a fcarcity, or 

 gives an opening for an impofition, the inhabitants not railing much 

 above half enough for their own confumption. In the midland parts^ 

 where the foil is rich, the feafons regular, and canes would grow 

 too luxuriantly, it may be cultivated with the greateft fuccefs. 



5 8 k Wild 



