9 



mean content of water was 10.9,'* per cent, nearly 1 per cent higher than 

 the mean of former analyses of the Department. The weight of 100 

 kernels was a little more than that before found, and this is not a sur- 

 prising fact, inasmuch as it would be natural for exhibitors to send not 

 only the largest ears but also the largest grains to the Exposition. 

 The percentage of proteids in the domestic World's Fair samples was 

 surprisingly low, being about 0.75 per cent less than was found in the 

 samples examined a few years ago. On the other hand, the percentage 

 of carbohydrates was about one point higher than that obtained in the 

 former work. In the above table will be found a convenient compari- 

 son of the means of maize analyses from all parts of the world. 



The typical American maize has approximately the following compo- 

 sition : 



Weight of 100 kernels grams. . 38. 00 



Moisture per cent.. 10.75 



Proteids do 10.00 



Oil .. ..do.. 4.25 



Crude fiber per cent.. 1.75 



Ash do 1. 50 



Carbohydrates other than crude 

 fiber per cent.. 71. 75 



PROTEIDS OF THE KERNELS. 



The maize proteids have been studied by Chittenden and Osborne, 

 who divide them as follows: 



Globulins: Unnamed, myosin, vitellin. 



Albumins: (1) Existing in small quantities, (2) existing in small 

 quantities. 



Zeins: (1) Soluble in alcohol, (2) insoluble in alcohol. 



Of these bodies the albumins have not been obtained sufficiently 

 pure to give the final data of composition. The other proteids have 

 the following composition : 



Composition of maize proteids. 



The relative quantities of the diiferent proteids have been lately 

 definitely determined, but the two zeins comprise by far the largest 

 part. As a result of Osbome's latest determination, it may be stated 

 thai; the mean percentage of nitrogen in maize proteids is 16.057, equiv- 

 alent to the factor 0.23. This is so near the old factor 6.25 as to make 

 unnecessary any correction in the percentages of total proteids given 

 above. 



