136 [A 



I should like to know why chemists, who stand high, dijBfer so 

 much in their results in the analysis of Indian corn. Payen and 

 Playfair, two eminent chemists of Europe, analyzed some speci- 

 naeos of corn of American growth. The first gentleman made 

 100 parts yield 28.4 of starch, fatty matter (oil), 35.6 — and the 

 second, protien 7, fatty matter 5, starch 76 — neither made albu- 

 men, gluten, phosphate, specifically as such. Dr. Jackson, of 

 Boston, who stands high as a chemist both in Europe and Ame- 

 rica, says, " that the relative proportion of phosphates in grain 

 depends on the assimilating power of each species or variety. An 

 ear of corn being selected, which had onitt wo different varieties^ 

 viz., the Tuscarora and the sweet corn, more than double the 

 amount of phosphates were obtained from the latter than the for- 

 mer, notwithstanding the kernels came from the same ear, grew 

 side by side from the same sap, and were derived from the same 

 soil." Dr. Jackson found a greater preponderance of phosphates 

 in Indian corn than in most other grains, as wheat, rye, barley, 

 &c. This explains a pretty important fact, that the more highly 

 phosphatic grains are, the more apt they are to surcharge the sys- 

 tem of adult animals with bony matter, often producing concre- 

 tions of phosphate of lime like those resulting from gout. Jt is 

 thought that stiffness in the joints of horses, and lameness of 

 their feet, commonly called foundering^ when fed too freely with 

 maize, is caused by the preponderance of the phosphates. If 

 this be true, young auimals cannot fail to derive more bony mat- 

 ter from corn than any other grain. 



As to the reports of the Patent Office on the products of our 

 soil, and the other branches of the industry of our country, it 

 has been intimated here to-day that these could not be relied on 

 — there are errors in them no doubt, as there must and will be 

 m everything of the kind. What shall we do '\ We have no 

 other means of procuring them for the whole nation, from any 

 ©ther quarter, as reliable. Agents are employed and paid by go- 

 vernment to collect and return all the facts relating to them at 

 the proper official depots at Washington; and if we use any we 

 must use these. Individuals sometimes make partial reports for 

 feeir own convenience, and which can afford none or very little 



