FRUITS AND THEIR USES 



59 



our corn crop has increased over 350 per cent. Illinois and Iowa 

 are the greatest corn-prodiirinii states, each having a yearly record 

 of over four hundred million bushels. The Figure on page 58 

 shows the principal corn-producing areas in the United States. 



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

 tains a larue proportion of starch, from which glucose and alcohol 

 are made. Machine oil and soap are made from it. The leaves 

 and stalk are an excellent fodder ; they can be made into paper and 

 packing material. Mattresses can be stuffed with the husks. The 

 pith is used as a protective belt placed below the water line of our 

 huge battleships. 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 of even greater money value to this country. Nearly seven 



RsSfl 160 to 640 Bushels per square mile 



; 7 



Wheat Crop in United States Percentage Source 



20 30 4.0 t,0 6.0 7,0 3.0 



I "I t 



Minnesota Kansas N.Dak. S.Dak. Neb. O. Cal.Ind.Mo.Pa. 



Other States 



hundred millions of bushels were raised in this country in 1910, 

 representing a total money value of over $700,000,000. Seventy- 

 two per cent of all the wheat raised comes from the North Central 

 States and California. About three fourths of the wheat crop is 



