THE COMPOSITION OF MAIZE (INDIAN CORN) AND SOME OF 

 ITS PRINCIPAL PRODUCTS. 



Maize is the most important crop cultivated in the United States. 

 The average area in maize for the ten years ended December 31, 1897, 

 was 75,061,112 acres (30,376,815.80 hectares), and the average produc- 

 tion of the grain of maize for the same period was 1,844,951,786 bushels 

 (6:0,157,446.52 hectoliters). 



Maize is not only valuable for the grain which it produces, but the 

 fodder, stalk, or stover, has a high commercial value as feeding mate- 

 rial and for other purposes. It is true that the greater part of the fod- 

 der at the present time is left upon the fields to be burned before the 

 planting of the next crop. In the older parts of the country, however, 

 the fodder is now carefully preserved and is found to be equally as 

 valuable as the grain when prepared and fed in the proper manner. 

 The purpose of this paper is to present, in a> condensed form, some of 

 the results of the extensive chemical examinations which have beer? 

 made in the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture at Washing- 

 ton on the composition of Indian corn in its entirety, and especially in 

 relation to some of its principal products. 



In all parts of the country maize forms a considerable percentage of 

 the food of our people, and especially is this true in the Southern States, 

 where Indian corn bread, among parts of the population, is the chief 

 bread food used. In various other forms, as hasty pudding (mush) and 

 other methods of preparation, it enters largely into our dietaries. 

 Although important as a human food, the principal use of maize is as 

 feed for live stock; and it is also used for the manufacture of starch, of 

 glucose, and of whisky and alcohol. On account of its great impor- 

 tance, a somewhat careful study of its composition is justifiable. 



COMPOSITION OF THE GRAINS. 



For the typical samples of grain grown in the United States and 

 collected at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago the following 

 represents the constitution : 



Weight of 100 kernels . . . grams . . 38. 979 



Moisture per cen t . . 10. 93 



Proteids do 9.88 



Fat and oil.. ..do... 4.17 



Crude fiber per cent.. 1.71 



Ash do 1. 36 



Carbohydrates other than crude 

 fiber per cent . . 71. 95 



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