BARVESTING THE CORN CROP 



227 



TABLE LVII 



Distribution of Albuminoids and Nitrogen-free Extract 

 IN Leaves, Stalks, and Ears of Corn at Different 

 Stages of Growth 



The above tables show very clearly the shift m relative 

 proportion of dry weight and important food constituents 

 from leaves and stalk to ear, as growth progresses. From 

 the data presented in the last five tables it would seem that 

 corn should be allowed to stand until quite mature before 

 harvesting, since the total yield and quality apparently 

 improve. There are two considerations against this : 

 the loss of leaves, and the fact that both leaves and stalk 

 become less palatable with maturity. 



RELATIVE VALUE OF PARTS 



155. From the last two tables it appears that at the 

 time the ear is in the " milk " stage, the relative dry 

 matter is about equally distributed between leaves, stalks, 

 and ears, although 40 to 50 per cent of the total nutrients 

 are in the leaves alone. There is then a gain in ear until 

 46 per cent of th(; dry weight and about 56 per cent of the 

 nutrients are found in the ear. 



