MAIZE. 



267 



Flint is substantially the bone earth of all grasses. If one were 

 to analyse the bones of a calf when a day old, again when thirty 

 days of age, and when a year old, the increase of phosphate of lime 

 in its skeleton would be similar to that witnessed in the leaves and 

 stems of maize. In the early stages of the growth of corn, its 

 leaves abound in phosphates ; but after the seeds begin to form, 

 the phosphates leave the tissues of the plant in other parts, and 

 concentrate in and around the germs in the seeds. On the 23rd 

 of August, the ash of the whole stalk contained 19^ per cent, of 

 phosphates ; and on the 18th of October, only 15.15 per cent. In 

 forming the cobs of this plant, considerable potash is drawn from 

 the stalk, as it decreases from 35.54 per cent. August 16, to 

 24.69 October 18. When the plant is growing fastest, its roots 

 yield an ash which contains less than one per cent, of lime ; but 

 after this development is nearly completed, the roots retain, or 

 perhaps regain from the plant above, over 4J per cent, of this 

 mineral. Soda figures as high as from 20 to 31 per cent, in the 

 ash obtained from corn roots. Ripe seeds gave the following re- 

 sults on the analysis of their ash : 



Silica 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Magnesia 



Potash 



Soda 



Sodium 



Chlorine 



Sulphuric acid 



Organic acids 



99.175 



The above table shows a smaller quantity of lime than is usually 

 found in the ash of this grain. It is, however, never so abundant 

 as magnesia ; and Professor Emmons has shown that the best corn 

 lands in the State of New York contain a considerable quantity of 

 magnesia. All experience, as well as all chemical researches, go 

 to prove that potash and phosphoric acid are important elements 

 in the organisation of maize. Corn yields more pounds of straw 

 and grain on poor land than either wheat, rye, barley, or oats ; and 

 it does infinitely beter on rich than on sterile soils. To make the 

 earth fertile, it is better economy to plant thick than to have the 

 rows five feet apart each way, as is customary in some of the 

 Southern States, and only one stalk in a hill. This gives but one 

 plant to twenty-five square feet of ground. Instead of this, three 

 square feet are sufficient for a single plant ; and from that up to 

 six, for the largest varieties of this crop. 



Mr. Humboldt states the production of maize in the Antilles as 

 300 for one ; and Mr. H. Colman has seen in several cases in the 

 New England States of America, a return of 400 for one ; that is 

 to say, the hills being three feet apart each way, a peck of Indian 

 corn would be sufficient seed for an acre. If 100 bushels of grain 



