Corn Products

It is a far cry to the day when Western farmers burned their surplus corn for fuel. Today, even the waste products of the corp crop are utilized in as thorough a manner as Chicago packers devised for dealing with hogs and cattle years ago.

Altogether, some 146 articles are made from the corn plant, including axle grease, face powder, shoe heels, cigaret holders, gunpowder, incense, phonograph records, shaving soap, shoe horns, varnish.

The corn crop is greater in value than any other grown in this country. About 40% is fed to swine on the farms, while horses get 20% and cattle about 15%. Of the remaining 25%, humans consume about 10%.

Corn stalks are extensively used for ensilage and feed for animals. From the corn cob is extracted a synthetic resin which is extensively used in making telephone receivers, pipe stems, electrical equipment formerly made of hard rubber, buttons, glue and similar objects.

Even lumber can be made out of corn cobs, where high tensile strength is not required. The weight of this synthetic lumber is about that of the lighter woods, and it can be worked by regular woodworking tools. It has been found a successful substitute for even birch wood in making spools, as well as in making picture frames, moldings and wall boards.