42 



CORN CROPS 



porting skeleton be on the outside, then much greater 

 resistance is offered. 



In the root, however, the mechanical tissue is in the 

 center, thus allowing the root to bend easily about among 

 obstructions and at the same time giving pulling strength. 



32. Nutrition. — Probably the most interesting, as 

 well as the most important, knowledge regarding the corn 

 plant is the method by which its supply of elements for 

 growth is secured from the soil and air, and the factors 

 affecting the assimilation and use of such plant-food. 



THE COMPOSITION OF A CORN PLANT 



33. If a green corn plant 2 or 3 feet in height be dried 

 in an oven until all the water has been driven out, it will 

 be found that about 90 per cent of the total weight is 

 water and only 10 per cent is solid, or dry matter. When 

 in the roasting-ear stage, the plants are about 80 per cent 

 water, and later, at maturity, 60 per cent. 



TABLE IX 



Average Composition of Green Maize ^ 



' From Jenkins and AVinton, Office of E.\p. Sta., U. S. Dcpt. Agr., 

 Bui. 11, 1892. 



