[Chap. 



the grain is impregnated. These ears are en- 

 veloped by thin leaves, which, all together, 

 are called the husJc. When the grains begin 

 to be formed, there comes from each grain 

 a little delicate thing, precisely resembling a 

 single string of raiv silk, only the former is of a 

 pale and shining green. These strings all come 

 out in time, at the point of the husk, and hang 

 down, as at e, e, e. Thtfainna drops from the 

 tassel upon these silks. The part between the 

 ears and the tassel, as at b, is called the to}), 

 which is, as will more fully be spoken of by-and- 

 bye, cut off before the corn is ripe. The blades, 

 as at c, c, c, c, are cut off at the same time ; but 

 this also will be spoken of hereafter. The stalk, 

 f^f, is the stout part of the plant out of which 

 the ears come. So that this plant consists oi stalk, 

 ears, blades, and top, and, at one stage of its 

 progress, of silks. I will just state here, that the 

 plant does not always bear three ears, but, 

 sometimes more, and sometimes only one, ac^ 

 cording to the ground and culture. I have had, 

 this year, seven ears, coming out of one stalk ; 

 but, I look upon three as a fair average, in good 

 land, with good culture, and with proper distances. 

 There are most commonly two or three suckers 

 to each plant 3 but these will be spoken of here- 

 after. 



12. As to the name, we English people take it 

 from the Americans 3 who, soon after the first 



