BULLETIN OF THE BUSSEY INSTITUTION. 101 
drates is as 1:10 very nearly. But for oats the ratio is ordinarily as 
1:5; and even for maize it is usually as 1 to rather less than 8. With 
the exception of rice, none of the grains commonly used as human 
food shows so low a nitrogen ratio as the seeds of the ripe broom-corn, 
unless, indeed, chestnuts and acorns be classed in this category. (See 
Bussey Bulletin I., 376, for the composition of these nuts.) 
It would seem to be plain, therefore, that, in feeding out broom-corn 
seed, it should be used in conjunction with those kinds of food that are 
much richer than it in nitrogen. Compare Bussey Bulletin I., pp. 360, 
368. The following remark of Dr. Livingstone * bears upon this 
point. “The country [on the river Loangwa, between Lake Nyassa 
and the East coast of Africa] abounds in a fine, light-blue, flowering, 
perennial pea, which the people make use of as a relish. At present, 
the blossoms only are collected and boiled.” . . . “ Another species of 
pea (Chilobé Weza), with reddish flowers, is eaten in the same way. 
It is worth remarking that porridge of maize or sorghum is never offered 
without some pulse, beans, or bean-leaves or flowers. They seem to 
feel the need of it, or of pulse, which is richer in flesh-formers than 
the porridge.” 
Dr. Veelcker, in reporting the analyses that were just now cited, very 
justly remarks: “Sorghum seed is rich in starch, but rather poor in 
nitrogenous compounds. Ground into meal, and mixed with bean or 
pea meal, the mixed meal will be found a good, palatable, and cheap 
food.” 
Before closing the investigation of the broom-corn seed, it seemed 
important to determine the chemical character of the immature seeds, 
which, as has been already stated on page 95, are removed from the 
early cut brush that is employed in the more modern practice of broom- 
making. To this end my friend, Mr. Charles Wright the botanist, 
was kind enough to collect for me at Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 
September, 1876, three samples of immature broom-corn seeds, from 
plants that had been grown from the same lot of seeds as those 
whose composition had been determined by analyses No. II. (see 
page 99). 
The samples were collected at the following stages of growth: A, when 
the youngest anthers had not yet fallen. 
* “The Last Journals of D. Livingstone in Central Africa,’ New York, 
1875, pp. 180, 181, chap. vi. date Nov. 27. 
