Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-07
FREAK CORN IN INDIANA.
Growing on Trees and Raised from
Prehistoric Seed 5000 Years Old.
(Anderson QndD RECORD Letterl

anderson Qnd) Record Letter.
The work Of laying in" Indiana's
great corn crop has begun. This week
the cutters entered eastern and central
fields. and are beginning to put the corn
in the shock.
Dempsy Waggy, a farmer residing In
Madison county, probably has the most
interesting field Of corn in the State.
Two years ago Waggy and Or. Cullen,
a neighbor, were hunting in Arkansas.
They were staying in a small village
named Marked Tree. 1t got its rather
unusual title from the fact that one Of
the trees bore strange hieroglyphics Of
an extinct race. The small village is
surrounded by many mounds Of remark
able snakelike contour. During their stay
some northern scientists visited the
mounds and began explorations, finding
many trinkets. Going deeper they found
bones OF humans and trinkots which
had been buried with them. In one
of the Theoretically sealed receptacles,
which was evidently the last resting
place of one of the rulers, the explorers
found ornaments the skeletons of dog,
ana OF a human being, and also some
Theoretically sealed jars. Both jars were
an -liEill anu Nll'n Op'h'h AptAib
10 contain corn. II was as bright, yell
low, solid and dry as though it had just
been shelled. The explorers took these
vessels, but gave Waggy a handful of
the corn He wrapped it up in a hand
kerchief and threw It into his travelling
chest. There it lay for two years.
Scientists claimed that there were
ample proofs that the body and the corn
had been inferred at least 1000 years,
and probably as long as 1900 years.
Waggy came across the seeds last
spring and planted them In his garden.
He was surprised when tiny blades shot
up through the ground. The corn grew
maryellOusly fast and as ii developed
il threw cut new mysteries almost daily,
until to-day the stalks are 10 TO u feet
in height, and are somewhat on the or
der of tree being as thick as a mans
wrist at the ground. Three feet from
the ground they shoot out three long.
palmlike leaves. The leaves are heavy
and very solid. resembling cactus leaf.
Some OF them are feet long from tip
to tip. These are the only leaves on the
stalk About feet further up are the
ears of corn. Many stalks bear six ears,
and none has fewer than four ears. At
this rate IL is figured that the average
'leiu 10 the acre "Vuiu NC ""0ue ~
bushels.
Above the ears the stalk continues 3
DR. feet, and is topped with very
tassel. The husks surrounding
he ears are very heavy. and as the corn |
ma lures they break and curl back, re- |
Yealing a firm. yellow-grained ear. The |
grains are very solid. and are excep- |
ionally good for feeding. The roots of |
he plant are very long. and bury them |
elves deep In the ground. While other
orn was suffering on account OF the |
brought this year the prehistoric corn /
vas green and healthy. Waggy will save
III of the yield this year. and plant fifty |
n sixty acres next year. lie has some OF |
he stalks and corn on exhibition. and /
hey are attracting much attention.
II. J. Blackldge. OF Anderson, who
,wns several farms north of this city. /