1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
17 
<SI)£ inirian (Horn Pant —-£ea maije. 
Varieties of Indian Corn. 
Maize or Indian Corn, is undoubtedly an American 
plant, though we have no positive knowledge in regard 
to its original habitat. We are not aware that it has 
ever been found growing in a wild state; but as its 
spontaneous production could only take place in a re¬ 
gion not subject to frost, it has been reasonably con¬ 
jectured that it is a native of the tropics. What changes 
the plant has undergone by cultivation, it is impossible 
to determine. It was found nearly in its present con¬ 
dition, in the possession of many of the Indian tribes, 
at the earliest period of their acquaintance with Euro¬ 
peans, and according to their traditions had been cul¬ 
tivated by them for ages. 
As its range of cultivation embraced the torrid and 
temperate zones, the character and habits of the plant 
presented considerable variety, as is seen at the pre¬ 
sent day. Each section had the kinds which seemed 
adapted to the soil and climate. The varieties of the 
south required more time to mature, had a large, tall 
stalk, with ears of proportionate size, the grains large, 
but flat, indented on the top, and in many instances of 
light weight in proportion to the bulk; those of the 
north matured in less time, had a short and small stalk, 
small ear, the grains small, round, flinty and heavy. 
Intermediate sections had kinds of medium character. 
An enumeration of the varieties now cultivated is 
impracticable-—they are very numerous; some were de¬ 
rived from the Indians, and, as we can trace them no 
farther, may be called original; many have been form¬ 
ed artificially, by mixture, and by selection, and in these 
ways they are constantly increasing. Dr. P. A. Baown, 
of Chester county, Pa., in an essay written in 1837, 
states that he had collected forty-two varieties. Taking 
those named by him, it would be easy to swell the list, 
by the addition of others already known, to sixty or 
more. 
Of kinds believed to have been obtained from the In¬ 
dians, we may mention the Sweet corn, the King Philip 
corn, the Golden Sioux, and Tuscarora. 
The sweet corn was known by the Indians as a dis¬ 
tinct sort, and is remarkable for the peculiar shriveled 
appearance of its grains, their softness and sweetness. 
But few attempts, probably, have been made to change 
this kind, and it presents, comparatively, but little varia¬ 
tion in its characters. It readily mixes with other kinds, 
when they are planted contiguously and are in blossom 
at the same time. 
The King Philip corn is a rather small, yellow eight- 
rowed variety, which has been cultivated in the eastern 
part of Massachusetts, and in Rhode Island. 
The Golden Sioux, or Early Golden Sioux, is a 
medium-sized, yellow kind, with from twelve to eighteen 
rows, obtained from the Sioux tribe of Indians. The 
celebrated Dutton corn, which was so highly recom¬ 
mended a few years since, is believed to be only a 
modification of the Golden Sioux. They are the same 
in all essential characters. 
The history of the Dutton is as follows. In The 
Cultivator for April, 1838, Judge Buel states that this 
kind of corn was obtained about sixteen years previous, 
“ from the Green Mountains of Vermont.” A com¬ 
munication from Dan. Chipman, of Ripton, Vt., in the 
Cultivator for June, of the year before mentioned, 
states, “ Not far from thirty years since, Salmon Dut¬ 
ton, Esq., a respectable farmer of Cavendish, in this 
state, procured a new variety of corn. Having raised 
a crop of it, and finding that it had a very large growth, 
and that it was, at the same time, earlier than the corn 
then generally raised in this state, and believing that 
the farming interest would be greatly promoted by 
raising it, in October, of the same year, he transported 
a quantity of it in the ear, to the place where our 
Legislature was in session, and distributed it among 
the members and others. It was thus distributed through 
the state, and took the name of the Dutton corn. I 
took an ear of it and planted it the next season; the 
stalks grew seven or eight feet high, and were large in 
proportion to their height. The ears were longer and 
much larger than any I had before seen, having from 
twelve to eighteen rows on an ear. The cob was very 
large and the grains very small, and not so flat as those 
of other corn; and many of the ears instead of com¬ 
ing to the point at the top end, were flattened and per¬ 
fectly covered with very small grains. I raised the 
corn for several years, and found it somewhat earlier 
than the corn then common in this part of the country. 
I never ascertained which yielded the most corn by the 
acre, but considered there was very little difference. 
The Dutton produced at least a third more corn fodder 
than the other; and yet, after having raised it five or 
six years, I threw it by, finding it very difficult to pre¬ 
vent its moulding on the cob, by reason of its great size.” 
Mr. Chipman states that a kind of corn called the 
Rocky Mountain corn, was brought into his neighbor¬ 
hood, several years after that above described had been 
introduced. He says it perfectly resembled the Dutton 
in every thing but its size, which was smaller and the 
growth more dwarfish. 
The Tuscarora corn is an early, dwarfish variety. 
The ears are short, with eight rows, the grains of a 
dull white color, rather large, and of a soft and starch¬ 
like consistence, hence remaining longer in a state fit 
for boiling than more flinty kinds. We have seen a 
kind called Tuscarora, but which we did not regard as 
true, that was larger and later than this. 
The other most distinct varieties in this vicinity are 
the following: Early white flint, or Canada white flint; 
an eight-rowed kind, rather small stalk and ear. very 
early, and perhaps more prolific than any other kind of 
equal earliness. 
Long-eared white flint; ears eight-rowed, sometimes 
twelve to fourteen inches in length; the cob small; 
grains round and flinty; of medium earliness; adapted 
to good lands, and on such, very productive. 
Long-eared yellow; resembling the above in all re¬ 
spects but color. This kind is cultivated in the Connecti¬ 
cut valley; we have seen fine samples of it at agricul¬ 
tural exhibitions at Hartford and Springfield. 
A yellow, twelve-rowed kind, sometimes called 
twelve-rowed Canada. Introduced here from the farm 
of S. W. Jewett, of Vermont. It is an early and ex¬ 
cellent kind. 
Characters of Varieties for the North. —The 
characters of a good variety of Indian corn for the 
northern states, are—1. A habit of quick growth. In 
this section, the seasons, at best, are but just long 
enough to mature this plant; hence the first point is the 
ripening of the crop, for if it fails in this particular, the 
labor of cultivation is lost. 
2. A stalk of medium size and strong growth. Some 
kinds are naturally weak—are more liable than others., 
to be injured by winds or by the attacks of insects, and 
require more attention to prevent their being over¬ 
powered by weeds. 
3. A long ear, of uniform size from one end to the 
other, the cob comparatively small, the grains plump, 
deep, and so closely set as to entirely cover the cob, 
even to the top, without any vacancy. Some kinds 
have very large but-ends, and large, hard knobs at 
the butt of the ear. It is a great defect, causing the 
retention of moisture, and rendering the corn liable to 
injury by moulding in the crib, or while standing in the 
shock, and also by being frozen while wet, which de¬ 
stroys its germinating power. 
