The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-12-18
f.rmers' department.
MAIZE, OR INDIAN CORN.

takes precedence IN the scale OF crops,
as it is best adapted to the soil and eli
mate, and furnishes the lalg est amount
of nutritive food. When due regard is
paid to the selection of varieties, and
cultivated in proper soil, it may be
accounted as sure crop in almost every
part of the habitable glob-, between the
forty-fourth degree of north latitude and
corresponding degree south. Besides
its production IN this country, its prin-
cipal culture is limited to Mexico, the
West Indies, most OF the States of South
America, France, Spain, Portugal, Lom-
hardy and Southern and Central Europe
generally. 1t is also cultivated with
success IN northern, southern and west
ern Africa, India, China, Japan, Aus
tralia, and the Sandwich Islands, the
groups of the Azores, the Madeiras, the
Canaries, and numerous other ocean isles.
Although there has been much writ
ten on the Eastern orr gin Of this grain,
it did not grow in that part OF Asia
watered by the Indus, at the time of AL
exander the Greats expedition. as it is
not among the productions of the coun-
try, mentioned by Nearchus, the COM
mander of the fleet; neither is it noticed
by Arian; Diodorus, Coumelia, Or any
other ancient author; and even as late
as 1891, the year before Columbus dis
covered America, Joan di Cuba. in his
"Ortus Sanitatis' makes no mention Of
it. 1t has never been found in any an
Gent tumulus, sarcophagus or pyramid;
nor has it ever bee n represented in any
ancient painting, scu pture, or work Of
art, except in America. But in this
country, according to Garcilaso de la
Vega, one ofthe ancient Peruvian histo-
rams, the palace gardens OF the lncas in
Peru were ornamented with maize in
gold and silver, with all the grams,
spikes, stalks and leaves; and in one IN
stance, in the "garden fgold and sill
ver," there was an entire ccrntield, Of
considerable size, representing the maize
in its exact and natural shape. A proof
no less of the wealth of the lncas
than their veneration for this important
grain.
In further proof of the American ORR
gin it may be stated, that this plant is
found growing in wild state, from the
Rocky Mountains IN North America, to
the humid forests of Paraguay, where
instead of having each gram naked, as
is always the case after long cultivation,
It'll completely covered with glumes Or
husks. 1t is, furthermore, a well au-
thenticated fact, that maize was found
in state of cultivation by the aborigi-
mes, in the Island OF Cuba, on its discov-
cry by Columbus, as well as in most
other places in America, first explored
by Americans.
The first successful attempt to cult
vate this grain in North America by
the English, occurred on James River,
in 1908. 1t was undertaken by the
coloniGts sent over by the London com
pany, who adopted the mode then prac-
ticed by the natives, which with some
notifications, has been pursued through
out this country ever since. The yield
at that time, is represented to have been
from two hundred to more than one
thousand fold. The same increase was
noted by the early settlers in Illinois.
The present yield east of the Rocky
Mountains, when judiciousy cultivated,
varies from % to 1875 bushels to an acre.
The varieties of Indian corn are very
numerous, exhibiting every grade of size,
color, and conformation, between the
"chubby reed" that grows on the shores
of Lake Superior--the gigantic stalks
ofthe Ohio Valley-the tiny ears, with
fat, close, clinging grains of Canada
the brilliant, rounded little pearl--the
bright red grains and white cob of the
eight-rowed hamalite--the swelling ears
of the white and yellow gourd-seed of
the South. From the hexibility of this
plant, il may be acclimated, by gradual
cultivation, from Texas to Maine, or
from Canada to Brazil; but its character,
in either case, is someweat changed and
often new varieties are the result. The
blades of the plant are of great value as
food for stock, and is an article but
rarely estimated sufficiently, when con.
siderlng the agricultural products of the
DoutlleTN anu Southwestern states eS-
pccially.
The increase of production from 1910
to 1850, was GA, O00,000 bushels, equal
to Sc per cent.
The production of New England has
advanced from 6,993,0O0 to 10, 377, 900
bushels, showing an increase of 1854
900 bushels, nearly 80 per cent. New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware and Maryland, increased 20,Sl2,-
600 bushels, more than so per cent. In
the protection fifth, crop no State has
refrigerated. Ohio; which in 1910 &C.
cup'ed the fourth place as a corn. pro-
due'ng State, now ranks as the first.
Kentucky is second. Illinois third Ten.