80 
TKIKID.VI), 
It is, however, necessary to allow the green hush to 
qnail in the sun before giving it to horses or mules, or 
it may give them colic; and sometimes it happens that a 
careless groom may kill his master’s horse by giving 
him green corn-bush. The milk of the young corn it is 
that does the mischief, hence, to be perfectly safe, it is 
as well to pick off and throw away the young ears 
before giving the fodder to the animal. The husks of 
the corn are of a soft nature, and when properly dried, 
do very well for poor- people’s beds and pillows. IMany 
who enjoy the sweetest sleep have nothing softer or 
better to lie upon than beds made Avith corn husks. Tlie 
siibstauce on which the grains of corn grow are not 
wholly useless ; they make A^ery good fuel, and are cer- 
tainly very cheap and convenient corks ; if they are not 
good for bottling champagne or ale, tliey sen'^e remarkably 
Avell to sto]) a calabash of Avater or syrup, or occasionally 
a bottle of rum, that is not reepdred to be kc])t too long. 
A field or patch of maize is a pretty sight; it is 
planted in roAvs, Avith generally three plants standing 
together; the stem averages about ten feet in height, 
has a fcAv broad, fiag-like leaves, and Avheii half groAvn, 
a fioAver shoots iip not unlike three ears of English corn 
on one stalk. About inidAvay up the stalk, the one, tAvo, 
or three ears are seen — pointed, finger-like projections, 
Avrapped in •many folds of green and silver lealy coAun- 
ing. As time goes on, these groAviiig ears put forth their 
silken, amber-coloured beards, Avhich are not merely 
ornamental, but give promise of large ears of ripe corn. 
In Trinidad a small quantity of ilce is gi'OAvn ; it is 
of a very superior quality, being far SAveeter and more 
nutritious than the best Carolina rice AA'e get in Trinidad. 
It is chiefiy grown by the Americans in their oAvn 
villages, and is probably from seed brought by the ohl 
soldiers, Avhen they, years ago, came from Carolina. 
.Supposing the seed to have been brought ii\)m South 
■Carolina, AAduch I think almost certain, it has lost 
nothing, but gained much from its culture in T’rinidad. 
