ZEA, INDIAN CORN, in botany, a genus of the moenocia triandria class. There are three species, viz.
1. The Americana grows naturally in the islands of the West Indies, with a very large strong stalk, which rises to the height of 10 or 12 feet. The leaves are long, broad, and hang downward; they have a broad white midrib. When the seeds of this sort are ripe, the spikes or ears are nine or ten inches long, and sometimes a foot; but these rarely ripen in England.
2. The alba is cultivated in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The stalks of this sort are slenderer than those of the former, and seldom rise more than six or seven feet high. The leaves are narrower than those of the first sort, and are hollowed like the keel of a boat, and their tops hang downwards. The grains of this sort do not come to maturity in England, unless the season proves very warm, and the grains are planted early and in a warm soil and situation.
3. The vulgare is cultivated in the northern parts of America, and also in Germany. The stalks of this are slender, and seldom rise more than four feet high. The leaves are shorter and narrower than those of the two former; they are hollowed like the keel of a boat, and their tops hang down. The spikes of male flowers are short, and the ears or spikes of grain are seldom more than four or five inches long. This sort ripens its grain perfectly well in England, in as little time as barley, so may be cultivated here to advantage.
There are several varieties of the two last species, which differ in the colour of their grain. The most common colour is that of a yellowish white; but there are some with deep yellow, others with purple, and some with blue grains; and when the different colours are planted near each other, the farina will mix, and the ears will have grains of several colours intermixed; but when the grains of the different varieties are planted at a proper distance from each other, the produce will be the same with the grains which were sown.
These plants are seldom cultivated in England.— In Italy, Germany, and in many parts of North America, they are treated in the following manner:
They first dig the ground well in the spring; and after having made it level, they draw a line across the whole piece intended to be planted; then they raise little hills at about three or four feet distance, into each of which they put two or three good seeds, covering them about an inch thick with earth; then they move the line four feet farther, continuing to do the same through the whole spot of ground, so that the rows may be four feet asunder, and the hills three or four feet distance. Six quarts of this seed is generally
allowed to an acre of land, which, if the soil be good, will commonly produce 50 bushels of corn.
When the corn is ripe, they cut off the stalks close to the ground, and after having gathered off the spikes of grain, they spread the stalks in the sun, to harden and dry, which they afterward use in the same manner as reeds in England for making fences, covering sheds, &c. for which purpose they are very useful to the inhabitants of warm countries; and when there is a scarcity of forage, they feed their cattle with them green, as fast as the corn is gathered off.
The corn is ground to flour, and the poorest sort of people in America, and also in Italy and Germany, make their bread of this flour; and in many of the warmer countries, the inhabitants roast the whole spikes, and dress them many different ways, making several dishes of it; but this grain seldom agrees with those who have not been accustomed to eat it: however, in times of scarcity of other grain, this would be a better substitute for the poor than bean-flour, or other sorts, which have been used in England, and at all times will be found a hearty food for cattle, hogs, and poultry; so that in light sandy lands, where beans and peas succeed not well, this grain may be cultivated to answer both purposes to advantage.
If this grain is cultivated by the horse-hoeing husbandry, it may be done at less expence than in any other method; for this is one of the plants which is more particularly adapted to this husbandry.
The time for sowing it is about the same as for barley.