A corn plant, fifteen days after the seed was planted, cut on the 3rd June close to the ground, gave of—
| Water | 86.626 |
| Dry matter | 10.374 |
| Ash | 1.354 |
| Ash calculated dry | 13.053 |
By the above figures it will be seen that nearly 90 per cent, of the young plant is water; and that in proportion to the dry matter, the amount of earthy minerals which remain, as ash, when the plant is burnt, is large. This excess of water continues for many weeks. Thus, on the 5th July, thirty-three days from planting, the relations stood thus:—
| Water | 90.518 |
| Dry matter | 9.482 |
| Ash | 1.333 |
| Ash calculated dry | 14.101 |
| (Ash very saline.) |
Before green succulent food of this character is fit to give to cows, oxen, mules, or horses, it should be partly dried. Plants that contain from 70 to 75 per cent. of water need no curing before eaten. The young stalk cut July 12, gave over 94 per cent. of water. Such food used for soiling without drying would be likely to scour an animal, and give it the cholic.
The root at this time (July 12) gave of—
| Water | 81.026 |
| Dry matter | 18.974 |
| Ash | 2.222 |
| Ash calculated dry | 11.711 |
| (Ash tastes of caustic potash.) |
Ash of the whole plant above ground, 6.77 grains. Amount of ash in all below ground, 3.93 grains.
So late as July 26, the proportion of water in the stalk was 94 per cent.; and the ash calculated dry 17.66 per cent. The plant gained 21.36.98 grains in weight in a week preceding the 6th September. This was equal to a gain of 12.72 grains per hour.
The rapid growth of corn plants, when the heat, light, and moisture, as well as the soil are favorable, is truly wonderful. A deep, rich, mellow soil, in which the roots can freely extend to a great distance in depth and laterally, is what the corn-grower should provide for his crop. The perviousness of river bottoms contributes largely to their productiveness of this cereal. A compact clay, which excludes alike air, water, and roots, forbidding all chemical changes, is not the soil for Indian corn.