104 CHAPTER VI 



1 :10'5, while those of the other parts are considerably wider. 

 The necessity therefore of supplementing a maize ration with 

 material of a higher protein content is apparent. 



" In well-developed maize," says Montgomery, " planted 

 at proper distances for maximum yield, the weight of shelled 

 maize will be almost equal to the weight of stalk. Increasing 

 the rate of planting has very little effect on the composition 

 of either grain or stalk, but as the proportion of stalk to grain 

 increases, it is evident that the analysis of the whole plant 

 will show a decreased percentage of protein and fat, and an 

 increased percentage of fibre. The total protein per acre will 

 increase. Silage from very thickly planted maize will not be 

 so rich in percentage of protein and fat, but the total yield per 

 acre will -be greater." 



Experienced farmers have long maintained that yellow 

 flint maize has a higher nutritive value than dent maize, and 

 while the ordinary chemical analysis has shown little difference 

 in favour of the former, recent investigations in the United 

 States of America ascribe the higher feeding value to the 

 superior vitamine content found in the flint types. 



Any account of the maize composition, however brief, 

 would be incomplete without some reference to the research 

 work done in selecting high and low protein maize at Illinois 

 University.'* 



The maize kernel was mechanically divided into tip-cap, 

 hulls, horny glutenous part (aleurone layer), horny starchy, 

 white starchy part and embryo. Analyses of these parts from 

 a number of kernels showed that those having a high protein 

 content could be separated by inspection from those having 

 a low protein content, and those containing a high percentage 

 of oil could be separated from those having a low percentage 

 of oil. 



Analysed, these parts showed that the increase in protein 

 in high protein maize over that low in protein occurs almost 

 entirely in the horny part of the kernel. 75 per cent, of the 

 total ash and 80 to 84 per cent, of the oil are contained in 

 the grain. 



Continued selection, guided by the analysis of these parts, 

 eventually separated strains having the following widely- 

 different composition : — 



