3i6 GENERAL SCIENCE 



Whether corn-raising is profitable or not depends upon the 

 cost of production relative to the market value of the crop 

 produced. To increase the number of bushels grown per 

 acre on the farms of the nation without any corresponding 

 increase in cost of production adds to individual and national 

 wealth. The agricultural colleges of the country are en- 

 gaged in experimental work to this end. They also give 

 courses of instruction concerning the character of soils and 

 their improvement, the nature of tillage for particular crops, 

 the selection and advantageous use of seed in crop growing, 

 the cultivation of growing crops, and the manner of harvest 

 and storage and disposal of these orops. To these courses 

 in Soils, Crops, and Farm Management, are added others in 

 Dairying, Animal Husbandry, and Horticulture, thus illus- 

 trating the diversity of interests involved in general agricul- 

 ture. As preparation for these courses there is need of some 

 knowledge of high school Botany, Chemistry, Geography, 

 and Physics. 



The list of uses of corn is a long one. The dry stalks with 

 their leaves are excellent fodder for cattle. Cut into short 

 lengths when green, the whole stalk with its leaves is exten- 

 sively used for filling silos to furnish feed for cattle, especially 

 on dairy farms. Less hay is needed where silage is provided, 

 and the quantity of milk from dairy cows is increased. The 

 corn itself (as ground feed preferably) may be worth more to 

 the farmer when converted into beef and pork than when 

 marketed as corn. 



Bread, cakes, puddings, and hominy are appetizing corn 

 foods. Corn meal by reason of lack in gluten requires wheat 

 or rye flour mixed with it in making corn bread. Corn 

 starch both for table and laundry uses, corn syrup, grape 

 sugar, and corn oil are all extensively manufactured. Sweet 

 corn from the garden and in cans adds variety to the vege- 

 table food supply. 



