124 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



der, the one thing needful is to develop early flowering varie- 

 ties, so as to get seed before frost. And thi could be done 

 without doubt, if some one in Texas or Florida would set about 

 it. What it has taken ages to do in the case of Indian corn, in 

 an unconcious way, might be mainly done in a human life-time 

 by rightly directed care and vigorous selection. Who is the 

 man .who is going to make millions of blades of grass grow 

 where none of any account ever grew before ? " 



In the southern cultivator for October, 1879, a writer from 

 Milledgeville,- Ga., under date of Sept. 7th., 1879, says that 

 from a few seeds planted March 20th. he saved one plant, which 

 "from a small, almost triangular seed has developed a plant now 

 9 feet high and 4 feet in diameter, with something over 80 

 stalks, and which no cow in the State could consume at a sin- 

 gle meal. It tillers from the very start, spreading horizontally 

 for some weeks before beginning a perpendicular growth/' It 

 showed ito signs of blooming; and six plants obtained from seed 

 planted in June would not attain one-third the size of this by 

 frost. 



On 16th. July, 1880, Mr. A. Wikas at the Menelas farm, 

 Brookhaven, Miss., writes me: "We planted in March, April 

 and May, 2 and 3 feet apart each way in hills, and it grows 

 equally well, The. leaves resemble very much those of corn, 

 and while at first it comes only a stalk, it shoots afterwards and 

 multiplies from 25 to 50. We think it can be cut 3 or 4 times 

 when 2J to 3 feet high. We planted the first on the 5th. of 

 March and although it is now about 6 feet high, yet there is no 

 sign of blooming." 



A part of this crop was not cut ; but after blooming, when 12 

 to 15 feet high, was killed by frost. It was in this condition 

 when I saw it. The stems were as large as those nf maize, 

 blades and tassel all so like those of latter that the one plant 

 might be easily mistaken for the other. I am convinced that 

 seeds of the teosinte can be matured in parts of Texas and Flor- 

 ida and also with little protection, in south Mississippi, Louisi- 

 ana and Alabama. It has a large number of large, long, strong 

 fibrous roots penetrating the soil deeply, 



On land well adapted to it, I. think it would not be difficult 

 to produce one hundred tons per acre. And as it contains a 

 large per centage of sugar besides other nutrients, it may be 

 made one of the very best, most profitable and desirable crops 

 in the southern States for ensilage. 



ZEA. 



Z. MAYS. Indian Corn, Maize. Well may this plant be call- 

 ed zea, LIFE; since it has become so essential and so large an 

 element in sustaining the lives of men, beasts and birds, domes- 



