MISCELLANEOUS USES OF COEN. 283 



clover have hitherto been more generally employed 

 for this purpose than any other crop, and the effect is 

 invariably good. But green corn when used for the 

 same object can be made to yield a much larger 

 amount of vegetable matter, and is therefore capable 

 of producing a larger result. Farmers have lately 

 given considerable attention to this subject, and some 

 of the results of recent experience go to show that 

 great and almost incredible fertilizing effects may be 

 in this way accomplished, especially in those cases 

 where the condition of the soil requires a large addi- 

 tion of vegetable matter. 



FUEL. In some parts of the "West where corn is 

 abundant and easily raised, and fuel is expensive 

 and difficult to procure, farmers have sometimes 

 found it both convenient and economical in winter to 

 use a part of their surplus corn in feeding their fires. 

 In well- wooded countries, and in the vicinity of coal- 

 regions, this practice will probably never become 

 necessary. But there are districts of country in 

 some of the Western States where the distance from 

 coal mines, the extent of the prairie, and the absence 

 of railroads make it difficult to procure either fire- 

 wood or coal at any reasonable price. It is fortunate 

 for the farmer, in such cases, that Indian corn can be 

 produced at such a rate of cost and in such abundance 

 that, after appropriating all that is needed for the 

 wants of his family and the requirements of his stock, 

 he has still an ample supply left to insure a warm 

 and cheerful hearth through the long winter even- 

 ings. 



