ON INDIAN CORN. 67 



At a Meeting of the Trustees of the Essex Agricultural So- 

 ciety, January 1, 1833. The foregoing statement having been 

 read and examined, 



Voted, That the first premium offered for the cultivation of 

 rye, be awarded to Mr. Keely. 



Attest J. W. Proctor, Secretary. 



THE CULTURE OF INDIAN CORN. 



The season of 1832 vvas so extraordinary as to deserve par- 

 ticular notice. The winter of 1831 and 1832 was remarkable 

 for the intensity of the cold and the great quantity of snow upon 

 the ground. During the month of December, 1831, the cold 

 was uninterrupted and after a slight relaxation in January, it re- 

 turned and continued with trifling intermission until late in March. 

 March itself was a cold, boisterous month ; and the oldest men 

 living do not remember a more backward spring. Planting was 

 necessarily postponed to a very late period ; much of the sfied 

 was rotted, so that in many cases the planting of Indian Corn 

 was several times repeated on the same ground ; and much vvas 

 abandoned in despair. The farmer's prospects were never more 

 discouraging. The cold continued until very late in the season. 

 On the 25th of May snow fell to the depth of two inches in the 

 neighborhood of Boston. The summer might be considered as 

 a cold summer, as there was no extraordinary intensity and no 

 long continuance of heat. On the 12th and 13th September, a 

 severe frost occurred, which destroyed much of the Indian corn, 

 which was then in the milk. After this followed a continuance 

 of mild and pleasant weather until late in the autumn. 



It is on many accounts important to the agricultural portion of 

 the community to retain the recollection of this memorable sea- 

 son, and to note its result in gratitude to that kind Providence 

 which appointed seed time and harvest, and in this instance dis- 

 appointed our fears and caused the earth to yield its supplies 

 for man and beast. ' The crops of rye were much winter killed 

 and very short. Oats and barley were abundant. Wheat in 



