THE FARM, AND OUR FOOD SUPPLIES 139 



Struc- 

 ture of corn- 

 stalk. 



5. Cut a stalk crosswise, and notice where the woody 

 fibers are closest together. Slit a stalk lengthwise, and com- 

 pare the structure at the nodes and between 



them (inter nodes) . What is true of the rela- 

 tive size and strength of a stalk at the joints 

 and between them? What connection is 

 there between the woody fibers of the stalk 

 and the fibers (veins) in the leaves? How 

 are the fibers arranged in the stalk relative F 

 to one another? How is it in the leaves? 

 What diameter (and circumference) has a 

 stalk of average size two feet above the ground? 



6. About how high on the stalks are the ears? What is 

 the length of the ear stem ? What would be one disadvan- 

 tage in having (a) the ears too high up ; (b) the ear stems too 

 long? Where are the ears with reference to the leaves? 

 What change is there in the shape of the stalk where the ear 

 is? How are the leaves arranged on the stalk? When do 

 com leaves curl ? ' What is the cause of this curling ? What 

 is the advantage to the plant in this ? 



7. Gather one of the -largest and one of the smallest of the 

 ears. What is true of the size of the stalk on which each 

 grew ? What is the number of stalks in each of these hills ? 

 What seems a* good number of stalks for a hill, and what is 

 the best relative size of stalk? 



8. Uproot one or more hills, and describe the general char- 

 acter of the roots. What special use have the "air roots" 

 of the corn? To about what depth did the corn roots 

 grow? What relation has this to the depth to which the 

 soil should have been plowed? How far sidewise did the 



