26 - NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



hole wherein they put out four grains, with care that they touch not 

 one another (about an inch asunder), and cover them with the mould 

 again ; so tliroughout the whole plot, making such holes and using 

 them in such manner, but with this regard, that they be made in 

 ranks, every rank differing from the other half a fathom or a yard 

 and the holes also in every rank. By this means there is a yard of 

 spare ground between every hole ; where according to discretion here 

 and there they set as many beans and pease ; in divers places also 

 among the seeds of Macocqwer, Melden and Planta Soles. . . 



Another early description of corn and its cultivation is given by 

 Harris in his Discoveries and Settlements. For the purpose of com- 

 parison with the foregoing, as well as for its information, this de- 

 scription is given verbatim; 



The manner of planting is in holes or trenches, about five or six 

 feet distance from each other; the earth is opened with a hoe (and 

 of late years, ,with a plough), four inches deep, and four or five 

 grains thrown into each hole or trench, about a span distant from 

 each other, and then covered with earth; they keep weeding it from 

 time to time, and as the stalk grows high they keep the mould about 

 it like the hillocks in a hop garden ; they begin to plant in April but 

 the chief plantation is in May, and they continue to plant till the 

 middle of June; what is planted in April is reaped in August; what 

 is planted in May is reaped in September; and the last in October.^ 



While the ground is being prepared for sowing, the seed corn is 

 soaked^ in warm water or in a decoction made of helebore^ root 

 and some other herb which the writer has not yet identified. These 

 roots are said to be a " medicine for the corn " but in reality the 

 " medicine " is a poison for crows and other field pests which might 

 eat the seed corn. A bird eating this " doctored " corn becomes dizzy 

 and flutters about the field in a way which frightens the others. 



1 Harris. Discoveries and Settlements Made by the English. In Pink- 

 erton. Voyages, 12 :242. Cf. Beverly, p. 126-27. 



Cf. Their manner of planting it is to make with the finger or with a little 

 stick, separate holes in the ground, and to drop into each one eight or nine 

 grains which they cover with the same soil that had been taken out to make 

 the hole." Jesuit Relations, 67:143. (Rale's letter to his brother.) 



Cf. Beverly. History of Virginia, p. 127. 



2 Cf. Sagard. Voyages des Hurons, p. 134. Paris 1632. 



* C/. Kalm. Travels in North America. Lond. 1772; Pinkerton. Voy- 

 ages, 13:527- 



