79 2 Journal of Agricultural Research voi.xx.No.io 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



A study was made of the chemical composition of the sunflower and 

 corn plants at different stages of growth. 



The dry matter in each increased gradually and consistently throughout 

 the entire period of growth. 



There is no great difference in the percentage of proteids in the two 

 plants, but it is slightly in favor of the corn plant. 



The reducing and nonreducing sugars in the sunflower declined some- 

 what irregularly but persistently during the growth of the plant. In 

 the first stage there was about one and one-half times as much nonreduc- 

 ing sugars present as reducing sugars. This relation was quickly changed, 

 and in the latter stages the reducing sugars greatly exceeded the non- 

 reducing. 



The percentage of starch in the sunflower is small and rises and falls 

 irregularly throughout the growth of the plant. 



The reducing and nonreducing sugars in the corn plant rise and fall 

 but with a marked upward trend during the growth of the plant until 

 the stage is reached where the kernels are maturing, when a sudden 

 drop occurs. The percentage of reducing sugars is always far in excess 

 of the nonreducing sugars. 



The starch rises and falls until the kernels are maturing, when a 

 sudden rise occurs. 



The chief difference between the two plants at the silage stage lies in 

 the amount and character of the carbohydrates. 



From the results obtained in this study it would seem that the best 

 stage of maturity for ensiling the sunflower plant is when the rays of 

 the flower have become dry and are falling. 



LITERATURE CITED 

 (i) Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 



19 1 6. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDITING TENTATIVE AND OFFICIAL METHODS 



OF analysis. 381 p., illus. Baltimore. From Jour. Assoc. Offic. Agr. 

 Chemists, v. i. no. 4, [pt. 2]; v. 2, no. 2 [pts. 1-2]; v. 2, no. 3 [pt. 2]. Biblio- 

 graphies at ends of chapters. 



(2) Jones, W. J., Jr., and Huston, H. A. 



1914. COMPOSITION OF MAIZE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF ITS GROWTH. EXPER- 

 IMENTS made . . . 1903. Ind. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 175, p. 595-630, 10 fig., 

 1 pi. (col.). 



(3) Ladd, E. F. 



1890. A study OF THE maize plant. In N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta. 8th Ann. Rpt. 

 1889, p. 79-91. 



(4) Morse, Fred W. 



1902. silage studies. N. H. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 92, p. 49-62, 2 fig. 



(5) Roberts, I. P. 



1888. growing corn for fodder and ensilage. In N. Y. Cornell Agr. 

 Exp. Sta. Bui. 4, p. 49-57, pi. 6. 



