The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-03

but the peculiar manner in which Ii Is put.
In all nature no plant seems more respon-
sive to intelligent scientific treatment than
corn. Protein, Icr instance, is an essential
element of food. Indeed, the derivation of
the word makes II the first, the producer
OF all the animal tissues. If Ii is desired to
produce a corn rich in protein, seed Is Sc
lected which chemical analysis shows to
have it In the highest degree. The yield of
this seed is replanted until the per cent.
OF protein IS increased several per cent.
For other purposes corn Is desirable which
contains the lowest quantity of protein
Seed Is selected which Is low in protein,
decreased This breeding has increased
protein where ii is needed to 1911 per cent.
and reduced it where II is not desirable to
6.66 per cent, the first representing the
Strengthening principle and the latter the
fattening quality.
Most OF us know little about 1t, but the
element Of oil in corn has come to be one
of its most valuable by-products. 1t is
used In making soaps, paints. oils, lubri-
eating oils and rubber. Large quantities
are exported, particularly to those cities
from which the largest exports Of olive oil
are made to the United States. Corn breed
ing for oil has resulted in an increase of
the per cent. of that constituent, and ex-
periments in the other direction have re-
duced it. The increase of oil in corn 1 per
cent adds five cents bushel to the price
for those who make the oil leading by
product. If only an increase Of yield Is
desired, corn can be bred so as to give
the largest yield. One farmer In southern
Illinois experimental with the seed OF the
agricultural college. He planted two fields
side by side, the same quality of land. with
agricultural and with common seed. The
acre over the other, the profit from the
increase on an investment of $40 for seed
being $40. 1t is predicted that scientific
work with corn will increase the yield an
average of two bushels an acre. Such an
increase would mean an increase in the
national wealth of about s4sO.OO0OOO a
year. If 1t were half that 1T would be a
great gain.
Corn is the biggest thing in the agri-
culture of several States, including Indiana.
The uses of no one product of the farm
have been so increased during the past
twenty-five years. Immense quantities of
corn are now manufactured into syrups
and starches. There are five grades OF
syrups made from corn. While glucose is
not a high-class sweet. it probably con-
tributes much more to the sweet tooth of
the country than does the native beet
sugar. Five grades of dextrin and as many
kinds of breakfast foods have been de-
veloped. Oil cake is another product which
possesses rare qualities for fattening cattle
| Corn pith is used in the construction OF
warships and also for the manufacture OF
| explosives of high potentiality. Just now
experiments are being made to divert the
| stalks TO paper manufacture and to the
| production of rubber. To perfect the pro-
| duction of this so useful plant is a matter
| of first Importance. 1t would be well fol
| farmers organizations to investigate the
| doctrines of the scientists at the Urbana
| Agricultural College.