AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 253 



"Tlie corn subjected to analysis was grown in Rhode Island, 

 and is a mixture of 'Red Cap' and 'Canada corn,' and generally 

 produces four or five ears to a stalk of the eight-rowed variety. 

 The number of kernels on the ear, 332, weighing 1,970 grains. 

 The cob weighed 260 grains. A second specimen, 325 kernels, 

 weighed 2,070 grains; the cob weighed 280 grains. The analy- 

 sis — 100 grains yielded to ether 475 grains of fat, fixed oil; and 

 alcohol 411 grains of ziene and sugar. Ziene is the name of 

 the peculiar gluten of Indian corn." 



ANALYSIS OF CORN COB.'-. 

 One hundred grains finely ground corn cobs yielded to ether, hot 

 alcohol, and boiling water 3,145 grains. These ingredients were 

 a siccative yellow fixed oil, 0.323 grain. Grape sugar or glucose, 

 0.242 grain. Dextrine (gum), with some albumen and extractive 

 bitter matter, 0.557 grain. Loss, 0.23 grain, showing the nutri- 

 tive matter per cent,. 3. 145, as all the value of cobs for feeding 

 purposes. 



Dried at 212^^ Fahrenheit, 1,000 grains of cobs burned in a 

 platina bowl, yielded the f.dlowing mineral matters : 



Potassa, 3.204 



Soda, 0.492 



Phosphate of lime, 1 .000 



Phosphate of magnesia, 0.260 



Phosphoric acid from the alkalies, 0.300 



Silica, 0.800 



Chloride, 0.196 



Peroxide of iron, 0.360 



Unburned charcoal, 1 .500 



Carbonic acid and loss, 1 .383 



Total, 9.500 



The great value of cobs as a fertilizer is the potash, or when 

 charred, as an absorbent of ammonia. 



Solon Robinson — I hoi:)e this will convince farmers that cut 

 straw is far more valuable to mix with corn meal than cut cobs, 

 and that straw can be nuide fine f )r lialf the cost. I doubt not 

 that instead of grinding cobs, the farmer would find more nutri- 

 ment in coarse bog hay. 



Dr. Waterbury — Yes, in saw dust. 



BEARDLESS BARLEY. 

 Solon Robinson — I liold in my hand a communication from a 

 farmer who is an honor to the name. He has accidentally ob- 



