Thoreau Manuscript, Berg Collection, "Notes on Fruits" folder, Accession Number [241a]

Thoreau Manuscript, Berg Collection, “Notes on Fruits” folder, Accession Number [241a]

[XX]     Gerarde says

[XX]     "The stalk of turkey wheat is like that of the

[XX]     seed. full of spongy pitts set with many joints,

[XX]     5 or 6 foot high, big beneath, and now & then

[XX]     of a purple color, and by little & little small above:

[XX]     The leaves are broad, long, set with veins like those

[XX]     of the seed. The ears on the top of the stalk be

[XX]     a span long [branches of sterile part]; like unto the

[XX]     feather top of the common seed, divided unto many

[XX]     plumes hanging dowward, empty & barren without seed,

[XX]     yet blooming as rye doth. The flower is either white

[XX]     yellow or purple, that is to say, even as the fruit will be.

[XX]     The fruit is contained in very big ears, which grow out

[XX]     of the joints of the stalk, 3 or 4 from one stalk, order-

[XX]     ly placed one above another, covered with coats or films

[XX]     like husks & leaves, as if it were a certain sheath; out of which

[XX]     do stand long & slender beards, soft & tender, like those

[XX]     laces that grow upon Savory, but greater & longer,

[XX]     every one fastened upon his own seed. The seeds are great,

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[VERSO TRANSCRIPT]

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[XX]     of the bigness of common peason, cornered in that part

[XX]     whereby they are fastened to the ear, and in the outward part

[XX]     round: being of color sometimes white, now & then

[XX]     yellow purple, or red; of taste sweet, & pleasant,

[XX]     very closely joined together in 8 or 10 orders or ranks. This

[XX]     grain hath many roots strong & full of strings."

[XX]     "We have as yet no certain proof or experience con-

[XX]     cerning the virtues of this kind of corn; although the

[XX]     barbarous Indians which know no better, are con-

[XX]     strained to make a virtue of necessaity, & think it a

[XX]     good food: whence we may easily judge, that it

[XX]     nourisheth but little, & is of hard & evil di-

[XX]     gestion, a more convenient food for swine

[XX]     than for men."

[XX]     V S