results of our investigation left no doubt about the fact, that our 

 green fodder corn at the time of the beginning of the glazing of the 

 kernels contained nearly twice as much vegetable matter per ton 

 weight of the crop, as at the time of the appearance of the tassels. 



This feature in the change of the composition of the fodder corn 

 during its growth is not an exceptional one ; similar changes are 

 noticed in all our farm plants. Our observations in this direction 

 were reported for the purpose of furnishing some more definite 

 numerical values for the consideration of practical farmers. As long 

 as the vital energy of an annual plant is still essentially spent in the 

 increase of its size, as a rule, but a comparatively small amount of 

 valuable organic compounds, as starch, sugar, etc., accumulates 

 within its cellular tissue. The comparative feeding value of the same 

 kind of fodder plants or any particular part of such plants is not to 

 be measured by its size, but by the quantity of valuable organic 

 nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous constituents stored up in its cellular 

 system. The larger or smaller amount of dry vegetable matter left 

 behin^ from a given weight of samples of the same kind of a fodder 

 plant of a corresponding stage of growth indicates in the majority of 

 cases their respective higher or lower economical value for feeding 

 purposes. Agricultural chemists for this reason usually begin their 

 examination of fodder plants with a test for the determination of the 

 amount of dry vegetable matter left behind, when carefully brought to 

 a constant weight at a temperature not exceeding 110° C. 



The taller varieties of corn are not necessarily the more valuable 

 kinds for the production of fodder ; on the contrary it would be more 

 judicious, on general principles, to doubt thier superior fitness for 

 that purpose until otherwise proved. This statement applies in 

 particular to some varieties but recently transferred to our section of 

 the country, for they seem to require an exceptionally rich soil to 

 yield the bast results they are represented to be capable of produc- 

 ing. Raised in a soil of moderate resources of plant food, but little 

 of the latter can be left over, after the production of their tall stalks 

 and bulky leaves, to assist in the formation of valuable organic com- 

 pounds, as sugar, starch, fat, nitrogenous matter, etc., to enrich the 

 entire plant. The same mode of reasoning applies to the raising of 

 exceptionally large sized roots, potatoes, etc., they are usually but 

 partly matured, and thus of a watery and indifferent taste. 



The general character of the climate and the physical and chemical 

 condition of the soil control the local adaptation of a plant for a suc- 

 cessful cultivation. Extremes of seasons and one-sided modes of 

 manuring are apt to modify the growth of a plant and to alter thereby 

 its composition. To learn how to check an inherent tendency of a 

 plant to a rank growth, in the interest of a fairer chance for a com- 

 plete maturity of the final crop, is most desirable information to 

 secure ; for success in that direction insures not unfrequently a 

 superior pecuniary return. A careful study of the special character- 

 istics of the plant on trial under the influence of existing local 



