48 



common name for several species of the genus Holcus, to which 

 these were referred — being distinguished from other kinds by the 

 terms great millet, Indian millet, &c. 



I received from the Patent Office last spring, through Mr. 

 Hildreth, the Secretary of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, a 

 package of the so-called Egyptian corn, a portion of which was 

 planted, and in due season produced " seed after its kind." It 

 was planted on the 25th of May, and by the 10th of October the 

 crop was generally ripe enough to save by cutting the stalks at 

 the ground, allowing the heads the benefit of the sap while 

 drying ; but at least ten days more would have been required to 

 bring it to the same state of maturity that grain usually is in at 

 the time of harvest. The stalks were from seven to nine feet 

 high, generally producing, like the broom-corn, one head or 

 panicle each. A large proportion of the- heaviest heads turned 

 down soon after emerging form the sheath, presenting, in connec- 

 tion with the stalk, the form of a shepherd's crook. The grain is 

 white, in shape resembling the broom-corn, but destitute of the 

 firm outer coating which characterizes that grain. When fully 

 ripe it separates very easily from the palea or chafi", which does 

 not entirely cover it. It would probably make a wholesome bread. 

 From time immemorial, it has formed the principal food of the 

 fellahs, or lower classes of Egypt, and has always been used to 

 some extent by the general population of that country. It is 

 found with wheat, lentils, &c., in packages taken from mummies, 

 even from those of the oldest date. It was no doubt cultivated 

 in the days of the Pharaohs, and may have been one of the kinds 

 of " corn " which Joseph's brethren went down into Egypt to 

 buy. 



The plant has a few peculiarities which increase its value for 

 certain localities : 



1. It stands drought remarkably well. Growing on rather 

 sandy soil, that cultivated by me was not apparently affected by 

 the severest drought of the past season, though the leaves of In- 

 dian corn on the same ground " rolled " considerably for several 

 days before rain came. 



2. After the first and main head has passed a certain stage — so 

 far as noticed after the grain had commenced hardening — another 

 head appears, starting generally from the second or third joint 

 from the top. These, in several instances, were in blossom at the 

 time the main heads were ripe enough to cut, and if the season 

 were prolonged to the extent it is in Egypt, a second crop would 

 probably be produced after the heads first formed had ripened 

 sufficiently to be cut. 



3. About the time the second crop of heads appear, numerous 

 suckers start from the roots and lower part of the stalk, growing 



