446 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The next table is inserted to record the per cents of moisture found in 

 the various samples through the progress of the experiment. 



THE LEAVES, STALKS AND EARS. 



The next question to be considered is the relative value of the leaves, 

 stalks, and ears and the changes that take place in their composition 

 as the crop approaches maturity. The idea obtains so widely in this 

 State that the sole use of the corn crop is to furnish the grain and that the 

 food value of the stalk and leaf is relatively insignificant that it seems 

 worth while to study this matter quite thoroughly and to make chemical 

 analyses of the leaves, stalks and ears at different stages of the growth 

 of the plant. These experiments were begun in 1S9G and partially repeated 

 in 1897. 



In 1896, on August 24th, August 31st, September 7th, and September 

 14th, 100 stalks were taken from the corn field, the leaves stripped off, the 

 corn husked, and the stalks, the ears, and the leaves including the husks 

 were weighed separately. The results were as follows: 



Weights of leaves, stalks and ears of too plants, 1S96. 



