VEGETABLES AXD FOOD PRODUCTS 233 



as "Pistache Malgache." In yield and requisite conditions for 

 cultivation the plant resembles the common ground-nut or 

 Arachis. 



Kerstingiella geocarpa. A kind of ground-nut similar to the 

 preceding species in habit, etc., found and cultivated in Togoland, 

 where it is known as "Kandela." It is a prostrate leguminous 

 herb, rooting at the nodes, bearing white, red or black seeds. 



Zea Mays. (Gramineae). Indian-corn; Maize; (Mealies of 

 S. Africa); "Bada-iringu" S-; "Cholum" T. An annual monoecious 

 grass, 8 to 10 ft. high, native of Mexico. The unripe tender heads 

 or cobs are, when properly cooked and served, considered by 

 most persons a delicious vegetable. They are cooked and pre- 

 pared in numerous ways, as boiled in milk, roasted, and then 

 served with butter, pepper and salt. The ripe grains are made 

 into Hour by the Sinhalese, buns made from this being known as 

 "Iringu-roti." The plant is grown to greatest extent and perfec- 

 tion in the warmer parts of America, where it is an important 

 article of diet, especially the " Sweet" or " Sugar " varieties. It 

 has also been long cultivated in the Eastern Tropics, where 

 however the best varieties soon degenerate; good seed should 

 therefore be imported frequently from America. Among the best 

 and most distinct varieties as recognised in America and Australia 

 are; "Pride of the North," "Jowa Silver-mine," ' 4 Longfellow 

 Dent," "Hickory King," "Golden Flint," "Mastadon," and 

 "Waterloo." Indian-corn is naturally subject to cross fertilisation, 

 so that it runs into numerous varieties if left to itself. It is suited 

 to a rather dry climate, like that of Dumbara in Ceylon, and may 

 be grown at all elevations up to 5,000 feet or more. Sow the seeds 

 at the commencement of the monsoons, in drills about 3 to 4 ft. 

 apart, with about 6 inches between the grains in the row, the drills 

 being about 3 inches deep. When the plants are well up, they 

 should be thinned out to distances of about 12 inches apart. In 

 indifferent soil, seeds may be sown 3 or 4 together in holes 12 in. 

 apart, with 2\ ft. between the rows, say 8,700 holes to the acre. A 

 return of from 80 to 100 bushels of grain per acre is considered a 

 good average yield. Each plant should produce from 2 to 5 cobs; 

 the cobs are from 8 to 12 in. long. 



