170 GRASSES OF IOWA. 



or soil binding grasses have strong root stocks or rhizomes. 

 There are two kinds of these soil binders. First. — The coarser 

 kinds which are exposed to the most severe action of the winds 

 and waves. These have their rhizomes deeply buried in the 

 sand. Second — Grasses with prostrate stems that creep over 

 the surface of the sand and produce at frequent intervals 

 long fibrous roots. Some of the more important of the sand 

 binders are Marram grass, Ammophia arenaria, the Elymus 

 arenarius. Of the many other grasses which aid in holding the 

 soil, mention may b i made of the rolling spinifex [Spinifex Mr- 

 sutus), Louisiana grass {Paspalum compressum), and sand grass 

 {Calamovilfa longifola). The latter species is especially valu- 

 able in many sections of this state where it retains the loose 

 sandy soil along some our streams. The Spartina cynosuroides 

 is a valuable grass in holding the alluvial soil of the Missouri 

 river bottom in position. 



Oil. 



Maize oil is obtained from the embryos of corn. Dr. Harsh- 

 berger* says: 'The oil is not obtained by direct expression, 

 but the grain is malted, and the germ is separated by ca- eful 

 crushing and winnow^ing. The germs are then submitted to 

 hydraulic pressure, and yield 15 per cent oil, and a press cake 

 rich in albumen, contairdng 4 to 5 per cent oil. Maize oil is of 

 a pale golden-yellow color , and has a peculiarly agreeabl*^ taste 

 and odor. It is a thick liquid, and has a specific gravity of 

 .9215 at 59° F. It consists of olein, stearin, palmitin, and con- 

 tains some volatile o:l. It solidifies to quite a solid mass at 

 10° C. (14° F.)." 



It is one of the common by-products in the manufacture of 

 glucose from the embryo of corn. It is an excellent oil for salad 

 purposes and is also a possible adulterant of olive oil and used 

 in the manufacture of soap. 



Fuel. 



In many of the western stat<^'s the cob 5 of corn are used for 

 fuel purposes, and Dr. Harshberger states that three tons of 

 corn cobs equal one ton of hard coal for fuel purposes. It is 

 hard to estima e the value of corn cobs as a fuel. F. .N. Fowler 

 who has charge of the L ^ckwood elevator, one of the largr-st 

 elevators along the C. & N. W. railroad in central Iowa, states 

 that it is impossible to make an estimate of the total value of 



*lc. 187. 



