Remarks on different Grains, 25 



I first planted the red corn, I have this year planted 

 delicately white seeds of early corn, carefully selected. 

 In this spot, in which I am certahi not a seed of the 

 red corn was either left from the crop of last year, or 

 planted this season, there are very many of both stalks 

 and ears, entirely (in colour) of the species of the red 

 corn. My old farmer says it is owing to the meal^ as 

 he calls it, dropped from the tassels of last year, re- 

 maining in the ground. But as this is not, as appears 

 to me, botanically correct, I leave the fact to be ac- 

 counted for by the learned. I shall banish this red corn 

 entirely. It is an additional proof of the difficulty at- 

 tending attempts to continue any species of grain, free 

 from mixtures with other varieties of the same genus. 

 The hybridous connexion can be effected, notwith- 

 standing every care, usually taken, is practiced. It is 

 also a warning not to indulge in varieties ; when, by 

 adhering to what we kno^v to be good, we may ensure 

 both comfort and substantial advantage. This lesson 

 would not be amiss, in our more important concerns. 

 The white and yellow corn of both this and the past 

 year, though not near the red, have played the back- 

 game on it ; and very perceptibly altered its tints. In- 

 somuch, that, on many hills of the present crop, the 

 redness is scarcely distinguishable. Yet I was careful 

 in selecting ears of the deepest red, for this year's 

 planting. Thus it is with every species of the same 

 genus of plants ; ^q farina fecundans whereof floats in 

 the air to incredible distances. But where the colour 

 is remarkably different, the mixtures are the soonest, 

 and the most strikingly perceived ; while that distant 



VOL. III. D 



