ON INDIAN CORN. 47 



which demonstrates that the Indian corn can be 

 greatly improved, both in quality and quantity, by 

 cultivation. 



"Near Nottingham, Princk George's Co. ( 

 Januanj, 20, 1837. ^ 



" Sir — I received yours of the 14th, making en" 

 quiry respecting the 'Maryland corn,' which you un- 

 derstood I had raised. 1 have the pleasure to say, 

 that I have brought this corn to its high state of per- 

 fection, by carefully selecting the best seed in the 

 field for a long course of years, having especial refer- 

 ence to those stalks which produced the most ears. 

 When the corn was husked, I then made a re-selec- 

 tion, taking only that which appeared sound and ful- 

 ly ripe, having a regard to the deepest and best color, 

 as well as to the size of the cob. Jn the spring, be- 

 fore shelling the corn, I examined it again, and se- 

 lected that which was the best in all respects. In 

 shelling the corn, I omitted to take the irregular ker- 

 nels at both the laro;e and small ends. I have care- 

 fully followed this mode of selecting seed corn for 

 tiventy-two or three years, and still continue so to do. 

 When I first commenced, it was with a common kind 

 of corn, for there was none other in this part of the 

 country. If any other person undertook the same 

 experiment, I did not hear of it ; I do not believe 

 others ever exercised the patience to bring the ex- 

 periment to the present state of perfection. At first, 

 1 was troubled to find stalks with even tivo good ears 

 on them, perhaps one good ear and one small one, or 

 one good ear and a ' nubbin.' It was several years 

 before I could discover much benefit resulting from 

 my efforts ; however, at length the quality and quan- 

 tity began to improve, and the improvement was 

 then very rapid. At present, i do not pretend to lay 

 up any seed without it comes from stalks which bear 

 four, five, or six ears. 1 have seen stalks bearing 



