158 ESSAY ON INDIAN CORN. 



been tried together, in the same field, and the Egyptian found to be 

 the earliest, and the Quarantine, or Cobbett's, next. There is also 

 a species called Valparaiso, — sometimes, also, called Oregon corn, 

 which, when roasted, splits in the form of a cross. A species called 

 Tuincata, is found in Paraguay and in some parts of Oregon. Each 

 kernel is covered with a glume, or husk. Owing to the difficulty of 

 separating the grain from the glumes, it is of little value. The zea 

 caragua is a corn found in Chili, said to be hardy and long-lived. 

 The Chinese have a remarkable variety called tree-corn, the ears of 

 •which hang at the ends of the branches. Nuttall describes a varie- 

 ty called the Early Mandan Corn, cultivated by the Aborigines 

 about the Missouri. It ripens in a climate where no other variety 

 could exist. Other species might be described, but it is sufficient to 

 say they probably all sprung from the common yellow, and that they 

 differ from each other in the color, form and size of the grains, and 

 in the time of maturity. 



Indian corn ripens at a time when most other grains have been 

 harvested. It therefore gives employment when there would natu- 

 rally be but little else to do. 



But what gives to Indian corn its great importance, is the actual 

 amount of nutritive matter which it contains. It is said to be third 

 in this respect, wheat and rice containing a somewhat greater amount, 

 though many place maize second only to wheat. We have the ana- 

 lysis of Indian corn, which may be given as follows : 



Silica, - - - 38.45 



Potassa, - - - 19.51 



Phos. of Lime, - - 17.17 



Phos. of Magnesia, - - 13.83 



Phos. of Potassa, - - 2.24 



Carbonate of Lime, - - 2.50 



Carb. of Magnesia, - - 2.16 



Sulph. of Lime and Magnesia, 79 



Silica, mechanically found, - 1.70 



Alumina and loss, - - 1.65 — 100 



making in all one hundred parts. In other words, we may say, on 

 the authority of Dr. Dana, of Lowell, there are in it of 

 Fat forming principles, gums, &c., 88.43 

 Flesh forming principles, gluten, &;c., 1.26 

 Water, ... 9 



Salts, .... 1.31—100 



