ESSAY OiS INDIAN CORN. 159 



A glance will show how greatly the fat forming principles predom- 

 inate in the one hundred parts. There is hardly any grain which 

 yields so much for the support of animal life. The difficulties and 

 contingencies of raising wheat in the eastern parts of Massachusetts 

 have discouraged its cultivation, so that we may say that Indian 

 corn is by far the most profitable crop, especially, as, when the offal 

 is properly managed, there is no grain which restores so much to the 

 ground. It is a fact, too, that it may be cultivated longer in succes- 

 sion than any other grain ; and if kept dry, it may be preserved for 

 an indefinite period without injury. The ease and rapidity with 

 which it recovers from a drought is truly remarkable. Many pre- 

 dicted during the last summer that the corn crop would be destroyed. 

 The leaves were badly curled, and there was every indication that 

 the crop would greatly suffer. Every one remembers how speedy 

 was its recovery, and how rapid its growth after the change of 

 weather. 



As a fattener for cattle, swine and poultry, we may say that In- 

 dian corn is unrivalled in utility. The analysis of Dr. Dana, as 

 given above, is sufficient to show, at once, how important it is for 

 such purposes. As a food for man it is extensively used, though by 

 some thought to be too stimulating. 



The most common mode of cultivating, is to plant in hills about 

 four feet apart. But our impression is, that where the largest crops 

 have been obtained, the seed has been sown in rows or drills. In 

 either case, it is now pretty well settled among farmers, that it seould 

 not be hilled, as was the custom but a few years since. There seem 

 to be several reasons for this. If the earth is drawn up around the 

 stalk at the last hoeing, it sends out new roots which divert much of 

 the nourishment which would otherwise have gone into the stalk and 

 the ear. It is not unfrequently the case that aerial roots, even, are 

 emitted from the lower joints of the stem above the ground, and de- 

 scending, fix themselves in the soil. This takes place on a very 

 much larger scale, if these joints are surrounded with earth. If the 

 earth is taken from the intermediate spaces, so as to leave hollows, 

 the long branching roots become exposed to the sun, and cause the 

 plant to feel the drought too severely. 



Kelp, which washes up in winrows upon the sea-shore, has been 

 found to be of valuable assistance to maize. It should be equally 

 spread over the ground, and ploughed in. 



