INDIAN CORN. Ill 



ty as upon richness of soil. Corn, like cattle, will 

 produce according to the quantity and quality of 

 the food which is consumed ; and if this food be not 

 in the soil, it matters little how many ears grow 

 upon a stock ; the product will be in the ratio of the 

 food : if there are many ears, they will be compara- 

 tively small ; if but few, comparatively large, in pro- 

 portion to the richness of the soil. An acre of good 

 pasture will carry, say five sheep, through the sea- 

 son, and fit them for the butcher ; but if the^ acre is 

 made to carry ten sheep, they cannot $hnve.' tind 

 will not be fit for the butcher. And again : TP l tti& 

 acre of pasture is poor and light, the five sheep put 

 upon it will be stinted in food, and will not thrive. 

 The gain in the sheep will be in proportion to the 

 quantity of herbage they convert into mutton and 

 wool. So with corn. The roots of this grain, like 

 the sheep, range over the whole pasture of a field, 

 gather the nutriment which it contains, and this is 

 transmuted into grain and forage ; the aggregate of 

 which is not very dissimilar, whether the ears be 

 three, two, or one upon a stock, provided due re- 

 gard is had in planting to the habits of the variety , 

 so that the pasture be fed off clean without being 

 overstocked. We have frequently observed that 

 we have more ears upon a stock on the borders of 

 our cornfield, and where the intervals are large be- 

 tween the hills, or some of the stalks deficient, than 

 we have in the centre of the field, or where the plant- 

 ing is close ; and that the size of the ears, or the 

 aggregate of the product, is always in proportion to 

 the richness of the soil and the excellence of its 

 cultivation. The atmosphere undoubtedly contrib- 

 utes essentially to the food of the corn-crop, where 

 the surface of the soil is kept clean, open, and per- 

 meable to it. The fermentation of long dung in the 

 soil, and the frequent use of the cultivator, tend to 

 keep it in this favourable condition. There is no 

 danger of gorging or injuring the corn crop with 



