I promise this is the last mention of Tree Corn!
Perhaps it was all a tempest in a teapot, but feelings about whether China Tree Corn was a humbug or not were noticeably varied! I am including these two positive reports to be fair to the ghost of Grant Thorburn.
from 1854, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 6
Chinese Tree Corn.
This variety was first brought into notice by Grant Thorburn, of Astoria, near New-York, some 12 or 15 years since. The origin of this corn, it is said, was a kernel found in a chest of tea and from that single kernel was propagated. It is a pure white variety; a very handsome ear about ten inches long; ten rows; grains very closely set; long and wedge form, well filled out to the end of the cob; some of the grains slightly indented.
One peculiarity of this corn is the ears grow on the end of the branches - hence its name, “tree corn”. It is said to yield from one-fourth to one-third more than the common
varieties. When ground into meal it is handsomer and better flavored than other white corn. It is also an excellent variety for making hominy, samp, etc. There are generally two ears on a stalk, and often three; sometimes there have been found four ears on a stalk, although the last mentioned number is rare.
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from The Farmer and Mechanic, Volume 1, 1847
China Tree Corn
The Editor of the Western Farmer and Gardener, in some remarks on this kind of corn, observes that when first known in this country, “it sold for 25 cts. an ear,” and China Tree Corn was all the rage; but in a year or two a change took place, and the rage was then with those who bought it; and had, as they said, been humbugged.
This corn has been raised largely in this country. We remember several years ago, to have seen a large crib full at Mr. James Blake's, of this city, and we have observed frequently in our common corn a large infusion of the blood of the China tree-corn.
— Mr. Foster in the January number of the Tennessee Farmer says, incidentally, that as far south of 40ยบ and below it, it has succeeded well, and very nearly answers the original representations.
In regard to the “reasons,” which brother Beecher mentions, we accord to them much weight, and would observe in respect to the first, that the quality of this kind of corn is excellent, although not in our opinion superior to the best Jersey Yellow or Dutton Corn; but in regard to the second reason, for sowing it broad-cast for fodder, on account of its luxuriance and greater quantity of leaves, it has certainly the pre-eminence over any other kind that we have seen; but it has, however, another advantage over other kinds in the sweetness and freshness of its flavor and color, being generally free from the dust and mildew which so frequently affects the leaves of the common field corn.
But we can recommend the tree corn for still more substantial reasons, than either of the foregoing, as we are conversant with facts, which prove a very decided superiority of this corn, in regard to the extra yield, when compared with that of the various kinds of other northern corn, which are produced in the New England States.
We know farmers who have particularly and faithfully tried the experiment for several years, and the invariable result has shown an average of 25 per cent in favor of the tree corn, when planted under the same circumstances, and in the same soil. Although originally about two weeks later than the white and yellow flint, by selecting the earliest and ripest ears for seed every season, it is now but a few days, or a week at the furthest, behind the other kinds, in the time of ripening.
The above experiments were made in Connecticut on soils of a fair quality, with different kinds of manures, &c., &c., and this has been the invariable result. We advise our readers to try for themselves.
Perhaps it was all a tempest in a teapot, but feelings about whether China Tree Corn was a humbug or not were noticeably varied! I am including these two positive reports to be fair to the ghost of Grant Thorburn.
from 1854, Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 6
Chinese Tree Corn.
This variety was first brought into notice by Grant Thorburn, of Astoria, near New-York, some 12 or 15 years since. The origin of this corn, it is said, was a kernel found in a chest of tea and from that single kernel was propagated. It is a pure white variety; a very handsome ear about ten inches long; ten rows; grains very closely set; long and wedge form, well filled out to the end of the cob; some of the grains slightly indented.
One peculiarity of this corn is the ears grow on the end of the branches - hence its name, “tree corn”. It is said to yield from one-fourth to one-third more than the common
varieties. When ground into meal it is handsomer and better flavored than other white corn. It is also an excellent variety for making hominy, samp, etc. There are generally two ears on a stalk, and often three; sometimes there have been found four ears on a stalk, although the last mentioned number is rare.
===================
from The Farmer and Mechanic, Volume 1, 1847
China Tree Corn
The Editor of the Western Farmer and Gardener, in some remarks on this kind of corn, observes that when first known in this country, “it sold for 25 cts. an ear,” and China Tree Corn was all the rage; but in a year or two a change took place, and the rage was then with those who bought it; and had, as they said, been humbugged.
This corn has been raised largely in this country. We remember several years ago, to have seen a large crib full at Mr. James Blake's, of this city, and we have observed frequently in our common corn a large infusion of the blood of the China tree-corn.
— Mr. Foster in the January number of the Tennessee Farmer says, incidentally, that as far south of 40ยบ and below it, it has succeeded well, and very nearly answers the original representations.
“On soils of a medium quality, it would out yield most varieties. It also made the best and sweetest meal, and the .." would turn out the greatest quantity of fodder, and of the best quality, (owing to its abundance of leaves,) of any corn known.”This is important testimony and is the result of several year's trial on the part of Mr. Foster and others. Have our readers made a faithful trial of the variety? There are two reasons for calling attention to it.
1. Large shipments of corn meal are to be hereafter annually made to Europe, and a corn that produces the best meal is of unusual value.
2. Many have adopted the wise practice of sowing corn broad-cast for fodder. If the China tree-corn has pre-eminent excellencies for this purpose, let it be known.
In regard to the “reasons,” which brother Beecher mentions, we accord to them much weight, and would observe in respect to the first, that the quality of this kind of corn is excellent, although not in our opinion superior to the best Jersey Yellow or Dutton Corn; but in regard to the second reason, for sowing it broad-cast for fodder, on account of its luxuriance and greater quantity of leaves, it has certainly the pre-eminence over any other kind that we have seen; but it has, however, another advantage over other kinds in the sweetness and freshness of its flavor and color, being generally free from the dust and mildew which so frequently affects the leaves of the common field corn.
But we can recommend the tree corn for still more substantial reasons, than either of the foregoing, as we are conversant with facts, which prove a very decided superiority of this corn, in regard to the extra yield, when compared with that of the various kinds of other northern corn, which are produced in the New England States.
We know farmers who have particularly and faithfully tried the experiment for several years, and the invariable result has shown an average of 25 per cent in favor of the tree corn, when planted under the same circumstances, and in the same soil. Although originally about two weeks later than the white and yellow flint, by selecting the earliest and ripest ears for seed every season, it is now but a few days, or a week at the furthest, behind the other kinds, in the time of ripening.
The above experiments were made in Connecticut on soils of a fair quality, with different kinds of manures, &c., &c., and this has been the invariable result. We advise our readers to try for themselves.
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