COMPOSITION OF MAIZE 



159 



average of ninetj^-nine American analyses of silage, thirty-five of 

 maize fodder and sixty of maize stover ; 



The average composition of the water-free substance of the 

 sixty samples of maize stover is almost identical with the average 

 composition of sixty-eight samples of timothy hay except a some- 

 what higher percentage of fat in the latter and a corresponding 

 decrease in the nitrogen-free extract. 



233. Water. — The per cent of w^ater in both the grain and 

 stover of maize when field cured is extremely variable. When 

 the ears have dried in a crib for a year, the grain will contain 

 under ordinary conditions from ten to eleven per cent of water, 

 but at the time of husking it contains very much more. For 

 example, the Illinois Station found, during 1888, 1889 and 1890, 

 the average per cent of water in varieties of different maturities 

 to be as follows : 



Early maturing varieties 

 Medium maturing varieties 

 Late maturing varieties . 

 Non-maturing varieties . 



On this basis i,ooo bushels of medium maturing maize would 

 lose, upon becoming thoroughly air-dry, a weight of water 

 equivalent to 115 bushels of shelled maize. If this 1,000 



