MAIZE. 109 



in both hands and scraped lengthwise smartly across 

 the edge of the iron until all the grains are removed. 

 In this manner, it is said, an industrious man will 

 shell from twenty to twenty-five bushels of corn in the 

 course of the day. The cobb which remains makes 

 a very tolerable quick-burning fuel, and thus no part 

 of the plant proves altogether without use. 



The grain forms one-half the measure of the ear, 

 that is to say, two bushels of ears will yield one 

 bushel of shelled corn. So correct is this estimate 

 found to be, that in the markets of the .United States, 

 where Indian corn is sold both shelled and with the 

 cobb, two bushels of the latter are taken without 

 question by the purchaser, as being equal to one 

 bushel of shelled grain. 



An amusing, and in many respects an instructive 

 book, was published a few years since upon the 

 merits of Indian corn, by one whose sanguine wishes 

 upon the subject of its introduction as a corn-plant 

 into England, led him farther than most people have 

 been inclined to accompany him. There is to be 

 seen in the work here referred to a very minute and 

 interesting account of all the various processes which 

 must be attended to by the maize-grower before his 

 grain is ready for sale, as well as very minute di- 

 rections for turning the produce to the best and most 

 agreeable account in family economy.* Although 

 the public mind seems at present to be differently 

 impressed upon the matter, it does not appear very 

 improbable that some hardy variety of this plant may 

 at no very distant day be regularly cultivated in 

 some parts, at least, of England, and in Ireland. 

 Sir Richard Bulkely, who obtained some seed from 

 Brandenburgh, sowed it in the last-mentioned island, 

 and it is recorded that his produce was exceedingly 

 great, fully equal indeed to anything asserted of 



* A Treatise on Cobbett's Corn, by W. Cobbett. 

 VOL. XV. 10 



