Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-07
Agricultural,

INDIAN Corn IN 1620.-The Corn Plant,
(Zsa Maiae) was unknown until the discovery
of America, and the Pilgrim Fathers found
it extensively cultivated among the Indians;
indeed, it it had not been. they would have
suffered far more severely for food, than they
were compelled to do. They soon learned its
uses an well as the method of cultivation from
the Indians, and it is interesting to turn back
two and quarter centuries to learn how the
Indians or rather squaws, raised corp-now,
as them the staple agricultural product of the
country. We gather our information from
Prof. Flint's Report of the Mass. Board of
Agriculture.
The farming of the natives, as well as
most of the hard work, fell to the lot of the
women, assisted sometimes, by old men and
little boys. Their tools We're very imperfect,
as they consisted only of rude hoes, made by
tying the shoulder-blade of deer or bear, Or
a large clam-shel, to Il pole or stick and
stone axes VITA which they girdled trees, Or
scraped the chared surface of the logs to
hasten their burning. The land when select
ed, was cleared by keeping up fire around
the foot of each tree until it was burned SO
that it would die. When tree fell, it was
burned into lengths so that it could be rolled
into heaps aud burned into ashes. Thus, in
the course Ell years, piece was wholly clear
ed, of its timber. In some instances the trees
were grdled and left standing until dry, when
they were burned down as above described.
| fNho EpaSt ~ nnl1nntol
seed, and particular attention given to plant
ing at the proper season. Holes were dug
with the hoes mentioned above, about four
feet apart, and those living near the sea-shore
then put Into each hole horseshoe crab or
two, upon which they dropped four and some
times six kernels of corn, and then covered it
with the implement with which they had dug
the hole. In the interior few small fishes
in each hill were used as fertilizer. Beans
were planted with the corn after it had come
up, and grew supported by it. Great atten-
ton was paid by them to the culture and
protection Of their growing crops. Not weed
was to be seen in the fields, and the corn was
carefully guarded against destruction by in
sects and birds. To prevent loss by the lat
ter, small watch-house was erected in the
midst of a field of corn, in which one of the
family, often the oldest child slept, and early
IN the morning rose to watch the backbirds.
IL was their universal custom to hill the corn
about two feet high, for its support, and spots
may De seen at the present day, which were
evidently cultivated by them The oolonsts
very generally initiated this CUSTOM and it
mas been continued down to our own times.
1t would be interesting to know if the Gus.
ION, To-, OF tapping and suek,ring corn was no,
~ likewise derived from its original cultiyators,
Ihey made no use OF the stalks and hence
would not be likely to take the amount or
quality OF fodder into consideration, II has
oeen seen that they praeticed moauy;ag and
clean cu,tars the great principles Of prowin
corn In the nineteenth as we'll as the ssveng
tssath csntury.-rRsrai Nep Yorker. = -,