262 



THE CEREALS IX AMERICA 



palatable and the less digestible it is. In the case of the maize 

 plant, however, it has been found that not only does the total 

 amount of dry matter increase, but the quality of the product 

 increases up to or nearly up to the stage of complete maturity. 

 There is an opportunity for the maize plant to lose its leaves if 

 entire maturity is allowed, the extent of which depends upon 

 weather conditions. On the other hand, the increase in the per- 

 centage of starch and of soluble carbohydrates is rapid during 

 the latter stages of maturity coincident with the development of 

 the ear, which constitutes so large a part of the whole plant and 

 which is so completely digested by domestic animals. The 

 result is that there is a decrease in the per cent of crude fiber 

 as the maize plant ripens. The following analyses made at the 

 Maine Station illustrate what in a general way has been verified 

 by many stations : ^ ^ 



Composition of Maize at Different Stages of Maturity. 



IN ONE HUNDRED PARTS '.VATER-FREE SUBSTANCE. 



352. Influence of Maturity Upon Digestibility. — A summary 

 •of American digestion experiments shows that both in the case 



1 Me. Rpt. 1893, pt. 2, p. 25. 



^ W. H. Jordan: The Feeding of Animals, p. 211. 



