GRAMINEiE. 253 



Zea. L. 19. 3. Indian Corn. 

 The Greek name of some kind of corn, from the Greek word 

 to live, on account of its nutriment. 



Z. mays. L. Maize. Cultivated, but indigenous to Ameri- 

 ca. It is more abundant at the South, larger, and more produc- 

 tive, and its flour is whiter and more excellent. The necessity 

 of hot weather to ripen this grain in this latitude, is well known, 

 and verified by the heat of the last summer (1839), when the corn 

 was, to a considerable extent, ripened at an early day in Septem- 

 ber, even in Berkshire County. It is probable that seed which 

 would ripen earlier, or had become better adapted to the climate, 

 was planted, and the favorable season early matured it. 



There are many varieties of Indian Corn, of which Maize is the 

 South American name ; all of which may be reduced to one 

 species. Some are far more hardy than the others. One of this 

 kind is mentioned by Nuttall as cultivated by the western and 

 northern Indians, and called " Early Mandan Corn." Some grow 

 and ripen in England. The value of this grass is immense. Its 

 stalks and leaves are excellent fodder for cattle. 



Indian corn was introduced into England in 1562. The spe- 

 cies Z. Curagua, W., Cross Corn, from Valparaiso, and which 

 parches into a cross-like form, is probably cultivated in some 

 parts of the State. 



As our corn is liable to be affected and sometimes cut off by a 

 too early frost, it is important to obtain seed from a more north- 

 ern section, which will be far more likely to ripen here. Though 

 it may bear a smaller ear, the advantage is obvious. But, when 

 the crop is injured by the frost, it was clearly ascertained a few 

 years since, that more corn was ripened by cutting it up from the 

 roots and placing it upright in small collections, than by leaving it 

 to stand. In the latter case, the juice of the plant seems to be 

 drawn to the root, in the former, to be carried into the kernels on 

 the ear, and to bring more of them to maturity. 



The smut of Maize is Uredo zees, Schw., a fungus of danger- 

 ous properties. Only a little is produced in our country, and it 

 is avoided by animals. It is said to have a deleterious effect on 

 those that eat it. 



