INDIAN CORN. 539 



of Bedford, all these questions have been solved in respect of all their staple 

 crops — grains, grasses and vegetables ; so that not only their weight and constitu- 

 ent elements in a dry and green state are known, but it has been ascertained, 

 as we can show, how all these different sorts of food contribute — some to the 

 secretion of millc, some to the formation of bone, others to the production of fat, 

 muscle, &:c. 



All this has science lately developed for Agriculture in Europe, recording 

 the results in books within our reach, forming the " book knowledge" so much 

 derided by some very wise people — in their own conceit. Even our own great 

 staple, Indian corn, which dire calamity has forced on tlie people of Europe, 

 we shall see, in the sequel of these remarks, has been there somewhat more 

 thoroughly analyzed already than in our own country. Why is it that with 

 all our Institutes, Societies and Associations, we are thus left to trans-Atlantic 

 lights for information ? flow much more honorable would it be to kindle the 

 lamps on our own altars, instead of wasting our means to have it shown once and 

 again that certain things in the way of large crops and fat beasts can be effected 

 which have been done ten thousand times before ? Rather, say we, let the new 

 lights which Agriculture, yet more than other arts, requires, be anxiously sought 

 for ; and to that end let a scale of liberal rewards be framed with due study and 

 circumspection, for those who will find and exhibit these new lights for its far- 

 ther improvement. In this case of Indian corn, however, it is not so much that 

 we need experiments to be made in its cultivation as that certain other facts 

 be ascertained. 



The plan should be to take any single acre of good fair yield — say 60 bush- 

 els, more or less ; and then, what it is desirable to know is — first. How much 

 the land which produced that given quantity of grain yields, also, in bulk and 

 in weight of cobs,* and in weight of shucks, tops, blades and stalks, suppose 

 the " tops" to be cut off above the top ear, as usual. We will presently show 

 why these facts, as respects the tops, blades and shucks of corn, are of great im- 

 portance as sources of national wealth — ay, as furnishing, in themselves, a claim 

 to influence in our national councils far beyond the whole stake of certain other 

 classes who catise themselves to be respected and cared for. 



To come to the point, then. We would respectfully suggest that the American 

 Institute, or the Agricultural Association, or the State Agricukural Society, 

 should nominate some two, or at most three, well known and respectable farm- 

 ers in States wide apart, to whom should be offered a prize of $100, or its equiv- 

 alent in plate on which this king of plants should be engraved — giving them in- 

 structions to take a fair average acre of corn land, and very accurately weigh 

 and measure the grain, and weigh the blades, tops, shucks and stalks. Though 

 we are aware that in many States the whole is cut off at the root, and the blades 

 not separated from the stalks and tops, yet it is desirable that for this experi- 

 ment it should be done, especially in the southern States, where the system is 

 different, and where the blades are cured and fed separately from the other parts 

 of the plant. The practice is, when the blades are ripe and before they get too 

 dry, to pull them from the stalk up to the topmost ear, cutting off the " tops" 

 just above the topmost ear, and saving and feeding them separately. Some 

 experiments of Mr. Ruffin showed some diminution in the weight of the grain 

 from cutting the tops before the grain was fully ripe, and the philosophy of the 



* This, 83 relates to the proportion between the grain and the cob, has since been done by Mr. Colt, as 

 the reader will presently see. 

 (1109) 



