INDIAN CORN. 195 



there does not appear to be any definite knowledge concerning 

 it, either in the books or the experience of our agricultural 

 friends. Mr. Colman, in one of his letters from England, 

 speaks of it as better than fresh peat when rotted, but gives us 

 no authority, any further than his own honored name. 



The following is the letter from Dr. Charles T. Jackson, 

 alluded to above : — 



Charles G. Davis, Esq. : — Dear Sir, — In reply to your note 

 of 29th instant, I would say that I have no doubt you will find 

 the gas lime will work well with peat, which will take up both 

 ammonia and lime, and make a good compost. I do not like 

 the coal tar so well, and it will be .best to get clear of as much 

 of that as you can. 



I cannot know what proportions the gas lime is to be used, 

 as I do not know the strengtli of it and of the ammonia liquor, 

 but you may safely add a barrel of it to a wagon load of peat. 



A good liming generally stops the growth of sorrel, but 

 should be followed with a thick sowing of clover and redtop, 

 to get "nine points of the law" in the field, i. e., possession, 

 so as to keep out the sour old enemy. As to the chemical salt 

 in gas lime, it is hyposulphite mixed with sulphate and hydrate 

 of lime. There is also sulphate of ammonia, carbonate of 

 ammonia, &c., <fec. 



Yours truly, Charles T. Jackson. 



INDIAN COHN. 



PLYMOUTH. 



Essay by Morrill Allen. 

 Indian corn is indigenous to this country. It had been 

 raised to some extent by the natives, before the discovery of 

 the country by Europeans. Our ancestors, entirely ignorant 

 of the plant, and its habits of growth, took tlieir first lessons 

 in its culture from the savages ; those lessons were necessarily 



