1886.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 53 



Composilion of Dry Matter in (he abjve Samples of Fodder Corn. 



Taking for granted that the digestibility of a fodder corn 

 at the time when the seeds are still soft and just beginning 

 to glaze, has been but little impaired as compared with that 

 just sending out tassels, we find it but good economy to de- 

 fer the cutting of the fodder corn to the first mentioned 

 stage of growth. One ton of green fodder corn in tassel 

 contained in our case 307.2 pounds of dry vegetable matter; 

 whilst in the case of the seed just beginning to glaze, 463.8 

 pounds of dry vegetable matter are found in one ton, — a 

 difference of 156.6 pounds in favor of the more matured 

 state of the growth. 



Pearl Millet {Penicillaria spicata.) — The Plats No. 13 

 and 14 were seeded down. May 16, in drills three feet and 

 three inches apart. Plat No. 13 was fertilized previously 

 with sixty pounds of steamed ground bones and twenty 

 pounds of muriate of potash. Plat No. 14 was, as in the 

 preceding years, left without the addition of any manurial 

 matter. The seed germinated in seven daj'^s. 



The growth on the fertilized Plat No. 13 soon took the 

 lead in size and general appearance, and maintained that su- 

 periority until September 10, when the crop produced on 

 both plats was cut for drying. The plants upon the fertilized 

 soil were foliaceous and from six to seven feet high. They 

 showed no sign of heads in blossom when cut ; whilst those 



