AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 123 



winter upon the rneal. The cob is often crushed and ground 

 with the com when intended for fattening animals, and produ 

 ces a good effect mechanically as well as nutritiously. Oxen, 

 however, are supposed to suffer from the fibres collecting in and 

 obstructing the intestines. 



289. Green corn stalks afford a saccharine juice which can be 

 crystallized into sugar. Many experiments were made in this 

 direction a few years ago, but the cost was found too great to 

 compete with cane sugar. The time, however, may come when 

 this manufacture will prove profitable, as that of Beet sugar is 

 at present in France. 



290. Corn is frequently sown broadcast to be cut green for 

 soiling, when the grain becomes of secondary importance. 



291. Corn may be made to grow, with manure and skilful 

 cultivation, upon almost any kind of soil, but the land peculiarly 

 adapted to it is that which contains a large per centage of veg 

 etable matter, is fine, friable, warm, deep, and sufficiently sup 

 plied with moisture by evaporation. Prairies, and diluvial de- 

 posites along rivers, may be called the natural habitat of corn. 

 It will grow where wheat prospers, but wheat will frequently 

 not mature profitably in the best corn lands. 



The following is an analysis of a rich corn-bearing soil in Ohio, oc 

 casionally overflowed by the Scioto River. It has been cultivated fifty- 

 one years ; and has borne forty-five crops of corn, and two or three of 

 wheat, and been a few jears in grass or clover. With the most ordinary 

 culture it yields 80 bushels of corn to the acre. (D. A. Wells.} 



I. Constituents soluble in pure water : 



Extract of earth, alkaline, chlorids, etc., - 0.032 



Organic matter, crenic acid, - - - 0.010 



Iron, lime and silica, .... 0.012 



II. Constituents soluble in dilute acid : 



f Iron, alumina, and manganese, 2.760 



I Organic matter, combined with the above, - 0.860 

 ,., _..- , 



Phosphoric acid, - traces. 



Potash and soda, - 0.161 



