13 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
•Tan, 
4. Ears set on the stalk at a moderate height, and 
on short stems or branches. A variety that ears high, 
is likely to be proportionately more productive of stalk 
than grain. Some kinds ear so low that the grain is 
liable to be damaged by coming in contact with the 
ground—as the ears hang down, more or less, when 
nearly ripe. If the stems are short, the ears are less 
likely to be injured in this way. If the ears set too 
low, it is more difficult to cure the corn in shock, both 
on account of its being affected by the dampness of the 
ground, and by packing so closely as to keep out the 
air. 
5. A thin husk. There is much difference in varie¬ 
ties in this respect. Those which have a light thin 
husk, ripen much faster, and can be husked much more 
rapidly, than those which have a thick covering. 
An observance of these principles may lead to the 
adoption of the best varieties. It must be remembered, 
however, that to perfect a variety, and continue it with¬ 
out degeneracy, the strictest care is required from 
year to year. The seed corn should be selected in 
the field, as soon as it is sufficiently hard, and regard 
should be had to every point which it is desired the 
variety should possess. 
Parching or “ Pop” Corn. —In the neighborhoods 
of cities, the selling of parched com is carried on to a 
considerable extent. The best kinds for this purpose 
are the Rice corn, and and a variety sometimes (though 
improperly) called Egyptian corn. 
The Rice corn is a dwarfish variety, bearing from 
three to four ears on a stalk; the ears seldom over four 
inches in length, with from eight to twelve rows; the 
grains of a similar color and shape to rice; very flinty; 
and when cooked, either by being boiled while unripe, 
or parched after having become hard, of a rich and ex¬ 
cellent taste. Of medium earliness, or rather late. 
Origin unknown. 
The so-called Egyptian variety is larger than the 
above; stalks six to eight feet high; two to four ears 
on a stalk; ears five to seven inches long, generally 
with eight rows; the grains small, of roundish form, 
and of a dark blue or black color. Of medium earli¬ 
ness. We know nothing in regard to its origin, and 
can give no reason for its being called Egyptian. It 
is evident that this variety has no special affinity with 
a kind of millet which has been cultivated in this coun¬ 
try, under the name of Egyptian corn. 
Neither of the last-named kinds are very productive; 
but it may be an object to cultivate them in particular 
districts, on account of the high price they command 
from the dealers in parched corn. 
poultry Pari. 
Origin of the Domestic Fowl* 
It is impossible to trace remotely, the history of the 
common fowl. It was kept in a state of domestication 
by the ancient Greeks and Romans; but as is observed 
by Martin, in his late Treatise on Poultry, in Knights 
Farmer’s Library, —“ The circumstances attending 
their primeval subjugation are utterly buried in oblivion. 
The same obscurity that hangs over the early history of 
our domestic quadrupeds, hangs over that of our do¬ 
mestic birds, nor can we hope ever to dissipate it.” 
The only part of the world in which the fowl is still 
found in a wild state, is Southern India and the islands 
of that region. Nor have we any account of its ever 
having been met with elsewhere, in a state of nature. 
Hence it is reasonably concluded that the bird is of In¬ 
dian origin. The author above mentioned informs us 
that at least four wild species are found in India, Ma¬ 
laya, Sumatra and Java; viz., 1. The Great Malay, 
Cochin-Chinese, or KulmFowl— {Gallus giganteus } of 
Temminck;) 2. The Javanese Jungle-Fowl—( Gallus 
bankiva, Temm.;) 3. Sonnerat’s Jungle-Fowl—( Coq 
sauvage, of Sonnerat, Gallus soneratti, Temm.;) 4. 
Stanley’s Jungle-Fowl— {Gallus stanleyii, of Gray.) 
The first of these is undoubtedly the parent of our 
domestic stock, known under the names of Malay, Java, 
Cochin-Chinese, &c. 
The Javanese, or Bankiva Jungle Fowl, fig. 12, is 
thus described by Martin:— 
“This beautiful bird is found wild in Java, and is 
about equal in size to an ordinary Bantam—the black¬ 
breasted red varieties of which, with a dark steel-blue 
band across the wings, it closely resembles. The 
space round the eyes and the throat are bare, the comb 
is much developed and deeply serrated along the upper 
It-—JAVANESE JUNGLE FOWL. 
ridge, the wattles are rather large. Long, elear, 
brilliant, golden orange hackles cover the neck and 
rump. The upper part of the back, over which the 
hackles of the neck are continued, is bluish black. 
The middle and lesser wing coverts are of a rich deep 
chestnut, with the webs of the feathers disunited; 
greater coverts, steel-blue; secondaries also steel-blue, 
with a border of chestnut. The quills are brownish- 
black, edged with pale reddish-yellow. Tail black, 
glossed with changeable green and blue. Breast and 
under parts black. Contour very graceful, and every 
action animated and lively. 
“It would appear that an allied but distinct species 
exists on the continent of India, distinguished chiefly 
by its larger size. Of this continental species, Sir W. 
Jardine states that he has seen three or four specimens, 
all of which came from India proper. From this per¬ 
haps, may be deduced the black-breasted red variety of 
our spirited game fowls. 
“With regard to the Bankiva jungle-fowl, it cannot 
be doubted that it is the main source, if not the only 
one, of our Bantam breeds. The very term Bantam 
is sufficient to establish the fact. Bantam is the name 
of a town and district in the north-w r est of Java, belong¬ 
ing at present to the Dutch. The town is now fallen 
into decay, but was formerly a place of great impor¬ 
tance, and still boasts of a governor, whose residence 
is at Sirang, or Ceram, a thriving town some miles 
inland. The Portuguese, who visited Java in 3512, 
carried on a great trade from Bantam with Hindustan 
and China, chiefly in pepper. In 1595 the Dutch es¬ 
tablished themselves at Bantam, and in 1602 the Eng¬ 
lish erected a factory in the same place, which was 
the first possession of the English in the East Indies. 
Of the subsequent predominance of the power of the 
Dutch, who built the tow-n of Batavia, not 
far distant from Bantam, this is not the place to 
speak. From this statement, however, it is evident 
that the beautiful Bankiva jungle-fowls, reclaimed by 
