580 AGRICULTURE. 



like proportion. In practice this is a very important fact, as the 

 nutritive value of corn is constantly varying according to cir- 

 cumstances. . 



The varieties of corn are generally distinguished by the num- 

 ber of rows of grain in the ear, as eight, twelve, fourteen, and 

 sixteen rowed ; or by the color, as white, yellow, brown, etc. ; but 

 none of the common divisions are either accurate or scientific. 

 It were useless to recite the names of the many varieties, the 

 more especially as they are constantly changing by hybridizing. 

 It may be noticed that northern corn will improve, if removed 

 southwards, in size and productiveness, but southern corn taken 

 to the North will either not ripen at all, or soon degenerate. 



The origin of sweet corn is unknown, but it appears to have 

 been used by the Indians of New England before the arrival of 

 the Pilgrims. It appears like an unripe grain, and contains an 

 unusually large proportion of the phosphates, and a large quan- 

 tity of sugar and gum, with but little starch ; while the stalks, 

 being small, take up a less proportion of the saline matters of 

 the soil. 



There is a difference also in the mode of distribution of the 

 oily and glutinous parts of corn ; the southern and Dent varie- 

 ties having the oil and gluten on the sides of the elongated seed, 

 while the starch projects quite through the grain to its summit, 

 and by its contraction in drying, produces the peculiar pit or 

 depression in this variety of grain. Popping-corn contains the 

 oil in little six-sided cells in the horny portions of the grain, in 

 the form of minute drops. When heated, the oil is decomposed 

 into carburetted hydrogen gas, and every cell is ruptured, the 

 grain being completely voluted. 



From these facts it will be perceived how important it is that 

 the farmer should study the adaptation of variety to the purpose 

 intended in consumption. If he wishes to give young animals 

 large bones, let him feed them on sweet corn ; but at the same 

 time manure the soil with dissolved bones or other phosphate- 

 bearing manures. He would endeavor in vain to fatten animals 

 with the Tuscarora, as it contains no oil, while it makes the 

 best bread, and is peculiarly adapted for the manufacture of 

 corn starch. Again, the hard northern gluten-bearing corns are 

 better for working animals than the southern starch-bearing vari- 



