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CHAP. III. 



Of the Culture o/Maiz, or Indian Corn, by M. Aimen, M. D. 



at Boiirdeaux. 



THE land which is intended to be planted with Maiz, ought 

 to receive two good plowings in March. It is proper to ob- 

 ferve, that this plant thrives better in a light and landy foil, than in 

 a fliff and clayey one ; and that it cannot do without dung. 



Towards the end of April, the furrows are made by giving the 

 ground a third plowing; after which the clods are broken by hand, 

 beccuife the furrows prevent ufing a harrow. 



A fair day is chofen in May, to fow the maiz, which is done by 

 making fhiall holes with a ftick or other inllrument, at the bottom 

 of the furrows, into which two grains of maiz are dropt. 



Care is taken to make the furrows, or trenches, a foot and an half 

 afunder, and the holes in thofe furrows at the fame diilance from 

 each other, in fuch a manner that they form a kind of quincunx. 



When the maiz is come up, the weakefl of the two plants is 

 plucked up wherever both grains have fprung, and two new grains 

 are planted where neither of them have grown. 



Towards the 15th of June, the earth is hand-hoed round each 

 plant J and as they ftand in the bottom of a furrow, the mould 

 which crumbles down from time to time, lays freili earth tp their 

 roots, and helps to fupport them. 



Towards the end of July, a flight hoeing is given them,which is 

 the laft ; and in fo doing the earth is laid towards the roots of the 

 plants. 



On the I 5th of Auguft, the particles of the male flowers are cut 

 off. It is well known that thefe contain no grain, and that they grov/ 

 at the top of each plant. Care muft be taken that the ^ain be 

 impregnated before they are cut off; Vv'hich may be knownby the 

 outward covering of the ears appearing turgid. The panicles muft 

 not be cut ofi^ from all the plants at the fame time, becaufe fome 

 of the ears are a fortnight later than others, before they are im- 

 pregnated. Thefe panicles are excellen't fodder for cattle. 



Nearly about the fame time, all the leaves are ftripp'd off the 

 ftalks, together with all the blighted and fmutty ears : for it i> pre- 

 tended that if they fhould be left upon tl-c ftalks, the gcod cars 

 WOUI4 not grow fo big, nor the grains be fo well nourhhed. 



All 



