258 AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



elevators where bin- burning caused by fermentation takes 

 place. Sound heavy seeds of full maturity always give 

 the best crop returns. Forage crops are more susceptible 

 to seed influences than are grain crops, because the leaves 

 and stems of plants are less constant in composition than 

 is the seed. 



361. Soil. The condition of the soil as to available 

 plant food has a material influence upon composition, and 

 in promoting a balanced crop growth. Experiments 

 conducted at the Connecticut Experiment Station (Storr's 

 Annual Reports, 1898, 1899) show that fodder crops grown 

 with a liberal supply of nitrogen have a tendency to con- 

 tain more of the nitrogenous compounds than similar 

 crops grown with a scant supply. The nitrogen and 

 available mineral matter increase the activity of the pro- 

 toplasm and chlorophyl in the production of all of the 

 organic compounds. With a larger amount of available 

 plant food, particularly nitrogen, a larger amount of 

 foilage is produced. All foliage crops, grown upon rich 

 soils, have larger leaves and a higher nitrogen content 

 than those grown on poor soils. 



The condition of the soil influences the composition of 

 leaves and stems to a greater extent than it does the com- 

 position and character of the seeds because they are more 

 constant in composition. The selection of seed corn has 

 a greater influence upon the composition and feeding 

 value of corn fodder than it has upon the grain. Fodder 

 crops, produced upon fertile soils and under favorable 

 climatic conditions have the highest feeding value. The 



