110 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



4. Rice corn, cars four inches, and grains like rice. 



5. A yellow 12 rowed com, from Vermont, ears 

 considerably smaller than the Button. 



Dr. Brown gives four criteria (the first three from 

 Mr. Taylor) v/hich should be regarded in selecting 

 our seed-corn, viz. : 1. The most stalk. 2. The lar- 

 gest cob. 3. Longest grain. And, 4. Early growth 

 and quick culture. The reason for the first is, that a 

 man can gather more grain, stalk, blade, top, shuck, 

 and cob, of large than he can of small stalks. This 

 quality, however, would not be so highly esteemed 

 in the North, for tall, large-growing corn would be 

 here later in ripening ; and besides, corn of this de- 

 scription will not bear planting so thick, and, conse- 

 quently, will not yield so much per acre as varieties 

 of more diminutive growth. 2. The large cob is 

 preferred, because it gives the most corn. 3. The 

 longest grain, because it decidedly settles the supe- 

 riority of the farinaceous product. We dissent from 

 this conclusion, and think the superiority in farina- 

 ceous product depends more upon weight than the 

 length of the kernel. The Dutton, it will be seen by 

 the communication of J. Wright, has weighed 69 

 Ibs. the bushel. This has a short kernel ; and yet 

 we doubt if any long-kernelled variety can be found 

 to weigh so heavy, or to afford so much nutriment. 

 The fourth requisite, early growth and quick culture, 

 is a very important one to Northern farmers. 



TO RENDER CORN PROLIFIC. 



It seems to be a great desideratum with farmers 

 to plant that variety of corn which will produce the 

 most ears on a stock. This criterion of a good va- 

 riety is deceptive, and passes for more than it is 

 worth ; and, withal, leads to a neglect of the main 

 point which should engage the farmer's attention. 

 It is not the number of ears on a stock, but the number 

 of bushels on an acre, that should be the first aim of 

 the grower ; and this depends not so much on varie- 



