Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-08-11
About Indian Corn.

Professor Manly Miles, of Illinois, to
whom we recently referred as having work cd
up for the Centennial models of our earliest
plows, has also made himself useful in another
way, namely, in illustrating the geographical
ranges of various kinds Of corn over the
United States. He has collected from many
States, and from many counties in the several
States, what would be regarded as the most
popular varieties grown in those places aud
it is singular to note that there is no mere
fancy in the selection Of varieties, but that
remarkable law of selection pervades the
whole distribution.
Starting with Canada and the most north
ern regions where corn is grown, We 6nd
that the elght-rowed flint corn is the great
breed. 1t makes no difference what the
variety Of corn may be, it will be Of thi:
grand section or division. There are, indeed
numberless varieties grown, but all. are Of
some one form or flint corn or another.
Thus it goes from Canada, through Maine
New. Hampshire, Vermont and northern
New-York In the southern part OF thii
State we find for the first time, here and
there cases Of partiality for the sixteen-rowed
gourdseed varieties. Through Pennsylvania
and the western States to the southern line
this class in numerous forms prevail, anC
then gradually comes in white corn. which
prevails more and more as we approach tn,
gulf. Professor Miles has all the kinds sen
him from the various parts placed in ordel
on a sheet, and the whole makes one OF tn,
most interesting "maps" VIC have ever seen
No one visiting the Agricultural Hall bu
should drop into the Illinois section and SEE
the interesting sight
Besides this geographical matter, there
are many points Of interest gathered up by
Prof. Miles in his investigations. There is
for instance, q variety Of beautiful ceruleaI
tint, called the Indian Blue. Of which tn,
cob is as hard as a piece of iron and which
it would sadly puzzle those "pnchy" peopl'
to use, who think it pays them, to smea
cobs in wet mush to cheat cows into eatin
them, instead Of committing them TO tn
kitchen to help the fire.
The Indians OF northern Illinois preserv
their corn in sand or gravel. They fud
piece of land OF this character on some hig
bluff, and from which the water will readil
, run away, in which TO make these corn-pit
and 10 these Prof. Miles says the grain viii
keep fresh aud good for over year. VIII
knows but these ancient Indians knew NOR
than we think they did, and that even th
! modern theories of Darwinism and evolutio
, were not strangers to them From this the
! no doubt found out the principle Of "selet
tion," and in time got n hard cob Variet
|, that would not mould easily If it did CON
into contact with a little moisture und'
. ground Now this Telegraph theory to man
0 may seem far-letched. Perhaps it is, b'
surely no more SO than the theories of man
brilliant men, and which all the world
called on enthusiastically to admire.
Another very important fact is evolved
J this labor Of Prof. Miles, and that is, that
Z Georgia weevl has commenced attackin
u the corn similar to the way in which whel
: is attacked by the same or a similar weev
. We presume that this is an entirely ne
y fact to agriculturists generallyi at least
= have never seen any mention OF 1t beioI
. In New.YOrk paper recently, we not
D that correspondent had seen something
y the kind in Brazilian corn, and "wsnt
s. that thing stopped" before the pest got
}, foothold among us. He had seen it in I
= = Centennial Exposition, and feared it wOu
- result in Centennial curse" But here
y y is already, GOT only at our own doors, b
~ in our own home. From the glimpse we 6
|, Of shell of an insect, it seems to be b
- - our ordinary grain weevil and if so it is
~ curious instance of new departure in o
~ ~ Of our familiar friends, whom we all suppOs
~ ~ to have very fixed and steady habits. Il
q ~ this is fact for entomolsgists to deci'
n y aud they will no doubt soon find work
~ this new field that we have developed
~ them.-GermGntOs0a Telegraph.