64 



BOTANY 



Corn. — Two billion six hundred and sixty-six million four hundred 

 forty thousand two hundred and seventy-nine bushels of corn were raised 

 in the United States during the year 1900. This figure is so enormous that 

 it has but little meaning to us. In the past half century our corn crop has 

 increased over 350 per cent. Illinois and Iowa are the greatest corn-pro- 

 ducing states, each having a yearly record of over four hundred million 

 bushels. The figure on page 62 shows the principal corn-producing 

 areas in the United States. 



^ — __ 



COTTON 



t>yS] I to 20 bales persauare mile 



I over 20 . 



Cotton Crop in United States — Percentage Source 



JL 



40 



5.0 



60 



i_ 



7.0 



GO 



9.0 



Texas 



Georgia 



Miss. Alabama S.Car. Ark. La. N.C.Other States 



Percentage Consumption — United States Cotton Crop 



20 30 40 50 60 7,0 80 9.0 



10 



United States 

 North South 



Great Britain & Ireland 



Germany France It. Rst.Wld, 



Indian corn is put to many uses. It is a valuable food. It contains 

 a large proportion of starch, from which glucose and alcohol are made. 

 Machine oil and soap are made from it. The leaves and stalk are an excel- 

 lent fodder; they can be made into paper and packing material. Mat- 

 tresses can be stuffed with the husks. The pith is used as a protective 

 belt placed below the water line of our huge battle ships. Corn cobs are 

 used for fuel, one hundred bushels having the fuel value of a ton of coal. 



Wheat. — Wheat is the crop of next greatest importance in size, and is 



