169 



Fodder Corn. 

 The results of tbe field experiments and analyses with this important crop made 

 during 1889 and 1890 were issued in June last in bulletin form. From the analytical 

 data then given I was enabled to draw the following conclusions: — 



1. That the corn plant increases in value, by the storing up of digestible dry 

 matter, until the kernel begins to glaze. If left uncut after this period the fibre 

 becomes more indigestible and the percentage of albuminoids is somewhat lessened, 

 and consequently the food value is lowered. 



2. That the dry matter in different varieties of fodder corn, taken at the same 

 stage of growth, is very similar in composition. 



3. That it is during the early part of the season that the corn plant takes from 

 the soil the larger portion of the mineral or ash constituents it requires; and also 

 that the albuminoids (whose chief constituent is nitrogen) are principally formed in 

 the tissues while the plant is yet young, 



EXPERIMENTS OP THE PAST SEASON. 



Further work, both in the field and laboratory, has been done during the past 

 season towards obtaining fuller information regarding the gi-owth of the corn plant. 



The varieties experimented with were Longfellow, Pearce's Prolific, Thorough- 

 bred White Flint and Eed Cob Ensilage. These were sown in drills 3 feet apart, in 

 fairly rich, loose soil. The latter had been well tilled, and it received a thorough 

 cultivation during the growth of the crop. 



Samples of each variety, consisting of 200 feet of one row, were cut at the 

 following stages of growth : Tasselling, silking, early milk, late milk and glazing. 

 The fodder was carefully weighed and a representative portion analysed. By 

 these means the yield per acre and the nutritive value of the fodder at the different 

 periods of development wore obtained. 



The following are the percentages of water and dry matter in the fodder corn: — 



Amount of Water and Dry Matter in certain varieties of Fodder Corn at different 



stages of Growth, 1891. 



Variety. 



Stage of Growth, 



Date. 



Longfellow,, 



Pearce's Prolific . 



Thoroughbred White Flint. 



Red Cob Ensilage . 



Tasselling . . 



Silking 



Early milk. . 

 Late milk.. 



Glazing 



Tasselling 

 Silking . , . . 

 Early milk. 

 Late milk . . . 



Glazing 



Tasselling . , 



Silking 



Early milk. 

 Late milk . , 

 Tasselling. , 



Silking 



Early milk. 



Aug. 1. 



do 11. 



do 27. 

 Sept. 10 



do 21 

 Aug. 3. 



do 13 



do 29. 

 Sept. 12. 



do 22. 

 Aug. 18. 



do 25. 

 Sept. 22. 

 Oct. 3 

 Aug. 22. 

 Sept. 2. 

 Oct. 3. 



jPercentage 



of 



Water. 



86 

 86 

 82 

 77 

 75 

 84 

 84 

 81 

 79 

 72 

 85 

 85 

 81 

 77 

 85 

 79 

 76 



•87 

 02 

 •84 

 •51 

 •28 

 •52 

 •91 

 •90 

 •00 

 •36 

 •84 

 •27 

 42 

 •07 

 •68 

 •14 

 •06 



Percentage 



of 

 Dry Matter. 



13 

 13 

 17 



22 

 24 

 15 

 15 

 18 

 21 

 27 

 14 

 14 

 18 

 22 

 14 

 20 

 23 



•13 

 •98 



16 

 •49 

 •72 

 •48 

 •09 



10 



00 

 •64 



16 

 •73 

 •58 



93 

 •32 

 •86 



94 



