VALUE OF COB-MEAL. 59 



elements which are needful to maintain health, and give 

 strength and warmth to the animal economy. 



An interesting question came up for consideration and 

 investigation several years ago, and has recently awakened 

 further inquiry. I allude to the matter of the nutritive 

 value of corn-cobs, and the advisability of grinding them 

 with the kernels, and feeding them to animals. Before giv- 

 ing careful attention to the subject ten years ago, I had 

 misgivings as to the utility or wisdom of the plan ; but 

 investigation settled the matter. With the \dew of ascertain- 

 ing as nearly as practicable the exact nutritive value of 

 corn-cobs, I selected a well-formed ear of corn raised at my 

 farm, from a bundle of ears, and, removing the kernels, sub- 

 jected the cob to analysis, with the following result. One 

 hundred parts gave, of 



Water 7.48 



Crude fibre 30.95 



Ash. • 1.16 



Carbo-hydrates, fat, and albuminoids . . . 60.41 



100.00 



The amount of fat was not accurately determined ; but it 

 was proved to be more than one per cent. The amount of 

 water is probably smaller than it would have been had the 

 corn been taken directly from the grain-house, instead of the 

 warm room in which it had been hanging for some weeks. 

 The results of the analysis prove that there is in corn-cobs a 

 considerable amount of fat-producing and flesh-forming con- 

 stituents. In the sixty per cent of carbo-hydrates, albumi- 

 noids, fat, &c., are found the elements which have nutritive 

 value ; and, in order that we may obtain some idea of its com- 

 parative worth, let us contrast it with the dry straw of some 

 grains. Wheat-straw contains about 30 per cent of carbo- 

 hydrates, 2 per cent of albuminoids, and 1^ per cent of fat ; 

 oat-straw, 38 per cent of the first-named substances, 2^ of 

 the second, and 2 of the third ; rye-straw, 27 of the first, 1^ 

 of the second, and 1^-^ of the third. It is shown that cobs 

 have a higher value than wheat or rye straw, and they equal 

 in nutritive constituents the best quality of oat-straw. These 

 results indicate the utility of feeding them to our animals, 

 provided there are no objections of a strictly physical nature, 



