308 On Indian Coniy Potatoes, ^c, 



wanted in this climate, to fill the grain ; yet I have 

 never grown better ears. One just shelled measures 

 one pint and near one gill, but if it had been cribbed, 

 till dried perfectly, might not measure more than one 

 pint. 



The prop roots of this plant are wisely constructed 

 to support the great additional height and weight ac- 

 quired, soon after their appearance, from the shooting 

 of the tassel and ears ; for they are stout, and very nu- 

 merous, and answer the double purpose of props and 

 gathering nutriment; which the plant requires in much 

 greater abundance, than at any other time, for filling 

 the ears. I have seen fields very luxuriant, previous 

 to this very trying crisis, which immediately after, be- 

 came pale and sickly, and proved unproductive ; which 

 is the natural result of crowding the soil with more 

 plants than it is capable of perfecting. 



The traces of numerous original corns, are evident- 

 ly seen in our fields and gardens. Only five of those 

 are in general use for field planting. First, the big yel- 

 low and white, in size ad form very much alike, the 

 cobs, long and thick, the grains are large, firm, and 

 without indenture ; but their size consists principally 

 in their width, which is greatest near the cob, and from 

 this point, the rotundity of their outside surface forms 

 a very considerable vacuity between the rows ; and a 

 large circumference, being filled with a few rows of 

 very wide grains, which are short even at their deep- 

 est points, covers an extensive surface, without intro- 

 ducing measurement in proportion to the size of the 

 cobs. Secondly, the little yellow and white, resembling 



