17 



an Com (Zea Mays, L.): And, indeed, in the districts most favorable tv> 

 its culture, it may be said to rival Wheat itself, in importance. Those who 

 ars not in the habit of regarding the vegetable kingdom with a botanical 

 eye, may possibly be surprised to hear this plant enumerated among the 

 Grasses: Yet, if they will advert to the definition already given, they will 

 find the Indian Corn to be a genuine member of the Gramineous Tribe, It 

 presents, indeed, one of the few instances in which the stem is solid with 

 pith, instead of being hollow, or fistular between the nodes; but in every 

 essential feature, it will be found, on examination, to be a true and undoubt- 

 ed Grass.* The same remark applies to the Broom Corn,the Sugar Cane, 

 and some others, in which the culm is filled with pith. In a district like 

 this, where every occupant of a field, or garden, cultivates his crop of Indi- 

 an corn, it would be wholly superfluous to dwell on the excellence and 

 manifold uses of this universal favorite. Suffice it to say, that, while it is 

 the most productive of our cultivated grains, every portion of the plant 

 has its value, in rural and domestic economy. The largo p. thy culm, about 



*Thc position, and structural aspect, of the fruit^bearing Spike, or Ear, 

 in this plant — though so different from ihe prevailing arrangement, in 

 other brasses — are yet rendered perfectly intelligible by the Goethean 

 theory of the developement ai-d modification of the vegetable organs. 

 As the natural or normal termination of all stems, and branches — when 

 fully developed — is in flowers and fruit, — it wdl be obvious, on exami- 

 nation, that, while the*culm, in this instance, terminates as usual — though 

 bearing only staminate flowers, — tiie ears ot Indian Corn are in reali- 

 ty, lateral flowering branches, en which the numerous pistillate 

 flowers are concentrated into dense spikes; — each spike being complete- 

 ly invested by the sheaths of abortive leaves, which originate at 

 the crowded nodes ot the short, peduncie-like branch, i hat this is 

 the true character of the Involucre, or husks, is apparent ironi tie fact, 

 that several of the lower, or exterior sheaths, ate often tipped with the 

 lamina? of imperfectly developed leaves (analogous to the awns of the 

 fale^:, in many smaller Grasses) : — indeed, in some instances, those 

 sheaths may be seen bearing large foliaceous expansions — almost as per- 

 fect as the leaves of the main stem. I have also observed culms which 

 put forth a flowering branch at every node, --a lit tie Ear protru- 

 ding from the axil of every leaf, from the lowest to the uppermost; — 

 though the usual number is two, or three, about the middle of the culm. 

 The branch which supports the Spike, is sometimes so much elongated 

 that it becomes too weak to sustain its burthen erect, — in which case the 

 mature Ear is found drooping, or pendulous by the side of the culm: and 

 occasionally, we find the spike itself ramifying, — i, e. secondary 

 branches, or spikes, issue from the axils of the sheaths composing the 

 husk,— so thai there is formed a compound spike, or cluster of several 

 small Ears, on the same primary branch. There is also a variety of 

 Maize, in which the flowering spikes are still further developed; — each 

 floret and fruit on the receptacle, being completely segregated! eub-pedun- 

 r.ulate, and Drovided with its own proper husks, or involucre, — while tho 

 whole are included in the common external envelope. Sometimes, even 

 ihe flowers of the tassel, or racemose panicle at the summit of the culm 

 ore so fully developed as to become perfect, end produce fruit; 



