2S THE COMPLETE FARMER 



ed seed among it, (which shows the maturity of the seed,) 

 should be preferred. 



GRAIN. Grain, strictly speaking, signifies seeds, grow- 

 ing in spikes or ears, and includes wheat, rye, barley, oats, 

 &c. Of the culture of these we shall treat under those 

 heads, respectively. We shall here give some directions 

 for improving grain of any sort which has become musty, or 

 sour. 



' The wheat [or other grain] must be put into any con- 

 venient vessel, capable of containing at least three times the 

 quantity, and the vessel must be subsequently filled with 

 boiling water ; the grain should then be occasionally stirred, 

 and the hollow and decayed grains (Avhich will float) may 

 be removed ; when the water has become cold, or, in general, 

 when about half an hour has elapsed, it is to be drawn oflf. 

 It wnll be proper then to rinse the corn [grain] with cold 

 water, in order to lemove any portion of the water which 

 had taken up the must ; after which, the corn being com- 

 pletely drained, it is, without loss of time, to be thinly spread 

 on the floor of a kiln, and thoroughly dried, care Deing 

 taken to stir and to turn it frequently during this part of the 

 process.' — Code of Agriculture. 



Indian Corn. Indian corn, or maize, as it is sometimes 

 called, is a very important crop. The celebrated English 

 agriculturist, Arthur Young, in speaking of the agriculture 

 of France, observed, ' The line of maize [corn] may be 

 said to be the division between the good husbandry of the 

 south and the bad husbandry of the north of the kingdom ; 

 till you meet with maize, very rich soils are fallowed, but 

 never after. Perhaps it is the most important plant that can 

 be introduced into the agriculture of any country, where cli- 

 mate will suit it. The only good husbandry in the king- 

 dom (some small rich districts excepted) arises from the 

 possession and management of this plant. For the in- 

 habitants of a country to live upon xh^X^ plmit , which is the 

 preparation for wheat, and at the same time keep their cattle 

 fat upon the leaves of it, is to possess a treasure for which 

 they are indebted to their climate.' The perfect tillage 

 and plentiful manuring requisite for Indian corn make it an 

 excellent substitute for a summer fallow ; it is a crop not 

 liable to be injured by too much or too coarse manure ; it 

 not only enables, but, as it were, forces the farmer in the 



