JOHN S. GOULD'S ADDRESS. 619 



The amount of inorganic matter taken from an acre of soil 

 by the small white flint corn, whose history we have been de- 

 scribing, is 881.85 lbs.; which is made up of the substances 

 following: Silicic acid 210.14 lbs., phosphates of iron, lime, 

 and magnesia, 94.58 lbs., potash 64.71 lbs., soda 63 lbs, lime 

 15.69 lbs., magnesia 9.69 lbs., chlorine 19.62 lbs., sulphuric acid 

 30.34 lbs. 



Of organic matter, there are taken from one acre 22,546 lbs. 

 Of this amount, 2,892 lbs. consists of sugar and extract, 5,139 

 lbs. of starch, which is found solely in the kernel, 15 lbs. of 

 rosin, found only in the cob, 11,526 lbs. of fibre, 817 lbs. of 

 albumen, 396 lbs. of caseine, 143 lbs. of zein, found only in the 

 kernel, 10.27 lbs. of dextrine or gum, 312 lbs. oil, found only 

 in the kernel, 171| lbs. chlorophyl and wax, and 420 lbs. of 

 glutinous matter. 



Of this 22,546 lbs. of organic matter removed from the soil, 

 8,008 lbs. is taken off by the kernels, leaving 14,538 lbs. for the 

 rest of the plant. Since these portions are most usually re- 

 tained on the farm, and find their way back to the soil in the 

 shape of manure, the 8,008 lbs. carried off by the kernels is all 

 that needs to be provided from foreign sources, to keep up the 

 fertility of the soil. 



Of the 881 lbs. of inorganic matter removed from an acre 

 of soil by a crop of the small white flint variety of corn, 99 lbs. 

 are contained in the kernels, leaving 782 lbs. in the remainder 

 of the crop, which is restored to the soil in the form of manure. 



We have seen from the preceding chemical and physiologi- 

 cal history of the corn plant, that the following conditions are 

 essential to its growth, viz. : 1st, heat ; 2d, moisture ; 3d, air ; 

 4th, light; 5th, a supply of 22,546 lbs. of organic and 881 lbs. 

 of inorganic matter upon each acre. 



Let us consider how far the skill and labor of the farmer can 

 be brought to bear upon the improvement of the crop under 

 each of these points. 



I. The farmer may secure an increased temperature in va- 

 rious ways : 1st, by aspect. It is found that on first rising 

 from the sea-shore, the air becomes one degree colder for every 

 200 feet of perpendicular ascent, and altogether 50 degrees 

 colder in rising 15,000 feet. Lands lying nearest to the level 

 of the sea enjoy the highest temperature. Again, lands hav- 



