

S) 





Agriculture is the most Healthy and Honorable, as it is tho most Natural and Useful pursuit of Man. 



VOL. X. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y.— OCTOBER, 1849. 



NO. 10. 



Hural Science am) Grconcmji. 



ANALYSIS OP MAIZE, OH INDIAN CORN. 



Prize Essay. History and Chemical Investigation of 

 Maize, or Indian Corn. By J. 1(. SAXisuoRy. 



. S. deserves the gratitude of his country for 

 increasing its knowledge of an indiginous plant, 

 which is extensively cultivated and more valuable 

 than any other grown in the United States. Thanks 

 are also due the New York State Agricultural So- 

 ciety for its liberal premium of $300, which has 

 elicited so important a contribution to Rural Science 

 from an indefatigible American chemist. It is the 

 privilege of practical farmers to avail themselves of 

 the material fad • clo ed by these researches; and 

 it is to aid them in that regard that the present review 

 of the labors of the author is written. 



The Essay forms over 200 pages in the volume of 

 Transactions of the State Society for 1848: and is 

 equally large when published separately, in which 

 form the author has very properly secured a copy 

 right. The work deserves and will command an 

 extensive sale. 



In the first twenty pages, we find an exceedingly 

 ■: ting history compiled from authentic sources, 

 of Maize, or Indian Corn, showing it to be a native 

 of American soil, and unknown in Europe, Asia or 

 Africa before Columbus discovered the New World. 

 Maize was extensively cultivated by the Indians 

 alike in North and South America and the West 

 Indies, at. the time Europi an i first visited and planted 

 colonies in this h 'misphere. The vast and peculiar 

 capacity of this plant, which belongs to the c< 

 and family of grasses, to sustain a dense population, 

 is hardly begun to be appreciated. As the hut 

 race i ■• the earth and acquire a hi 



standard of comfort, calling for more breadstuffs, 

 tl "iority of Maize 



over all other plants, whether for its forage or its 

 seeds, will be seen and acknowledged by all. So 

 long as our ssil and climate shall produce cheap 

 com, and cheap cotton, human food and raiment 

 I iji the land. These will com- 

 mand beyond all contingency, a m more nu- 

 an any thing which Egypt, Asia or Europe 

 has ever witnessed. Providence has given to the 

 Now World agricultural capabilities, peculiar and 

 superior in many respects, for the economical pro- 

 duction of bread, meat, milk, wool and cotton. As 



a people, a peculiar destiny awaits us; and that des- 

 tiny has for its broad, enduring and honorable basis, 

 the science and the art of agriculture, wisely adapted 

 to American sunshine, seasons, plants, and the wants 

 of civilized man. But we wander from our text. 

 Let us return to the Chemical Investigation of 

 Indian Corn. " 



Till it approaches maturity this plant contains a 

 per centage of water in its stems and leaves. 

 When ten days above ground, young plants yield over 

 89| per cent of pure water, if cut oil' even with the 

 earth and perfectly dried. 100 parts of dry plants 

 give over 13 of ashes. At 25 days from planting, 

 the proportion of water was less than 87 per cent: 

 and the ash 10.7 per cent. Young corn stalks gave 

 !' I [arts of water in 100. The more rapidly any 

 plant grows, the larger the proportion of water which 

 it contains and also of alkaline and earthy salts. 

 The crop planted on the 3d June gained most in the 

 week preceding the 16th of August, when the ears 

 were forming. The gain in weight in seven days 

 was 2953 grains in a single plant: equal to 436 

 grains a day and 18.16 per hour. At this period in 

 its development Mr. S. found 91 per cent, of water 

 in the stalk; 83 in the leaf; 89 in the sheath; and 

 0-1 \ in the tassel. Calculated dry, the stalk gave 

 10.7 per cent, ash; leaf 11.16; husks 6 per cent. 



From observation and experience, we have long 

 been in favor of partly drying green corn, rye and 

 clover, before feeding either to milch cows, horses, 

 oxen or mules. There is an excess of water in 

 such food which should be evaporated by the skillful 

 and partial curing of green forage. The addition of 

 a little salt will render it more digestible and nour- 

 ishing to ti . Corn is a valuable grass and 

 haj plant in every State in the Union. In this rela- 

 tion it has not received that careful study and atten- 

 tion which its importance demands. 



One of the most interesting features in the growth 

 of Maize, as disclosed by the admirable researches 

 of our author, is the gr< at change in its incombus- 

 tible elements at different stages in its life. Up to 

 July 19, the .-talks were quite brittle and had but a 

 small quantity of silica or flinty covering around 

 them. After the time named, silica in< eased rapidly 

 in the stalk and gradually in the leaf. On the 12th 

 July the leaves gave their maximum of phosphates. 

 These diminished as the kernels were organized. 

 As silica (flint) is of no account in the animal 

 economy, and the raw material for forming seeds ex- 

 ists diffused through the plant when the kernels 



