72 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap 



coloured orange ; Sweet Corn, that is to say, co- 

 lour of drah^ and deep-wrinkled, while the other 

 two are plump, and smooth as polished ivory. The 

 plant was from a grain of White Corn ; but, there 

 were Yellow, and Sweet, growing in the same field, 

 though neither at less than three hundred yards dis- 

 tant from the white. The whole, or, at least, the 

 greater part, of the White Corn that grew in the 

 patch was mixed (some ears more and some less) 

 in the same way ; and each of the three sorts were 

 mixed with the other two, in much about the same 

 proportion that the White Corn was. 



142. Here we have the different sorts assembled 

 in the same ear, each grain retaining all its distinc- 

 tive marks, and all the qualities, too, that distin- 

 guish it from the other two. Sometimes, however, 

 the mixture takes place in a different way, and the 

 different colours present themselves in streaks in 

 all the grains of the ear, rendering the colour of 

 the grains variegated instead of their being one- 

 coloured, 



143. It is very well known, that effects like this 

 are never perceived, unless in cases where different 

 sorts of Indian Corn grow at no great distance 

 from each other. Probably, too, to produce this 

 intermixture, the plants of the several sorts must 

 be all of the same age ; must all be equal in point 

 of time of blowing and kerning. But, be this as it 

 may, the fact of intermixture is certain : and, we 

 have only to know the fact to be induced to take 

 effectual measures to provide against it. 



144. As to bees carrying the matter, and impreg- 

 nating plants with it, the idea appears nonsensical ; 

 for, how comes it that whole fields of Indian Corn 

 are thus mixed ? And, in the Indian Corn, let it be 

 observed, the ear, that is to say, the grain-stallc, is 



