1202 Rural School Leaflet 



4. Note the liille j^rowth on llic leaf where it comes off at an an^'le 

 from the stalk. Do }'0U think this [)revents the rain from flowing down 

 between the stalk and the clasping leaf? 



5. Describe the veins in tlie corn leaf. How do the veins running in 

 a lengthwise direction help to strengthen the leaf? Are the edges of the 

 leaf straight or ruffled? Why has the leaf such an edge? 



6. Describe the roots of the corn plant. Do they go deep into the 

 ground? Describe the brace roots. How do they help the plant to 

 stand firm against the force of the wind? From how far up the stem 

 do the brace roots spring? 



7. Where on the cornstalk are the ears borne? How many ears are 

 there on a stalk? Remove an ear and describe how the stalk is shaped 

 to fit the ear. 



8. Examine the outside, husks and compare them with the com leaves. 

 W^hat facts indicate that the corn husk is an adapted leaf? 



g. Describe how the inner husks differ from those outside in color 

 and in texture. 



10. After removing all the husks, carefully examine the ear and note 

 whether there is a thread of corn silk for every kernel. Is there an equal 

 amount of the silk lying between every tw^o rows of kernels? Does the 

 tip of each thread of silk reach up to the tip of the ear? 



11. How many rows of kernels are there on the ear of corn? How 

 many kernels in a row? 



12. How many kernels are there on the whole ear? 



13. Do any of the row^s of kernels disappear tow^ard the tip of the ear? 

 If so, do they disappear in pairs? 



14. Study a corn cob with no com on it and note whether the rows of 

 sockets in which the kernels grew are in distinct pairs. 



15. Break an ear of corn in two and sketch the broken end, showing 

 the relation of the cob to the kernels. 



16. How many kinds of fiov/ers are there on the cornstalk? Describe 

 the flowers in which the pollen is borne. How" does the pollen reach 

 the pistillate flower, which is to grow into an ear of corn? 



17. If you find that on an ear of corn a kernel is blasted, what 

 happened to it? 



18. If you ]3lant sweet corn and field com or black and white vari- 

 eties of sweet com near each other, what is the result? Why does this 

 happen? 



19. How does the com look during a di'ought? 



20. What are the points to consider in selecting com for seed? 



21. How many varieties of com do you know"? What is the difference 

 between the dent and the flint varieties? Which rij^ens earlier? Which 

 is more used for silage? W^hy? 



