Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-11
State College Chemist Weems
Answers Question Regard
inc Preservation of Corn
ARTIFICIAL DRYING NECESSARY
Great Amount of Water in This Years
Crop May Make More Than Natural
Drying Methods DesirabIe--Thinks 1t
Can Be Treated to Drying Process
With Profit to Farmers.
to Times Republican.

Specfai TO Times hepuDllcdH.
Ames Nov. 11.-Frank Cassidy, d.
vision passenger agent of the G. G. W.,
has recently been looking up the con-
dition of the present corn crop in Iowa.
Recently he wrote the state chemist at
the Iowa Agricultural College asking
his opinion and the result of recent
tests made in regard to the condition
of Iowa's corn. The purpose of Mr..
Cassidy's inquiries into these condi-
tions is to enable the farmers along the
line of the C. G. w. to get the very best
results from a scientific standpoint
from the corn raised by them this year.
The following reply was received from
the state chemist:
my Dear Sir: Yours of the Sd inst.
at hand and contents noted. We nave
made number of the analyses OF the
corn crop of this year and from the re-
suits which have been obtained 1t APP
pears to me that the problem is one In
which a certain amount of water must
be allowed to dry out of the corn crop
in order to insure its keeping. The.
amount of water present inlcorn varies
from 29.S3 to 1924 per cent. This is
quite large amount when we compare
it with the amount of water in the crop
last wear, which varies from Ills to
157 per cent, or the average contents
for ordinary corn of about 10 per cent.
The amount of protein, fat, crude fiber,
ash, starch and sugar present in the
corn is practically the same in the new
corn and the old when compared with
one another in a dry condition. The
corn cobs also contain an excessive
amount of moisture and vary between
1853 and 1929 per cent, as compared
whit Is per cent in the eobs grown
last year. The idea which is brought
forward by some that the nutriment is
stored in the cobs is not true, for the
chemical composition of the cobs when
compared on a dry basis is practically
the same for the old and those grown
the present year. The entire problem
it seems to me is limited to the best
manner of drying the corn in order
that from Is to 20 per cent of moisture
may be removed from the corn. Wheth-
er it will be best to allow this drying
process to be carried out under ordin-
airy atmospheric conditions such as al
lowing the corn to remain in the field
in the shock or whether some artificial
means of drying must be adopted, is a
problem for each community to settle
for itself. 1t appears to me, however.
that under careful hands corn can be
cured without any great risk in mould
Ing.
Personally, I sincerely hope that as
the result of favorable weather that
this excessive amount of moisture will
be driven or taken away from the corn
by the atmosphere itself, and if care
fully watched and cared for no unfor
tunate results viii be obtained. If
there is anything in addition to the
above In which / can aid you I am at
your service at any time.
II may add that the station will pub
fish if it has not already sent to the
press at this time a communication on
the subject of soft corn, which includes
the analytical work which has been
carried on in this section. If you
should, however, desire any chemical
data that we have in hand, I will be
glad to send 1t to you at any time.
Yours truly,
az. B. WEEMS."