140 LABORATORY LESSONS IN GENERAL SCIENCE 



roots reach out? What bearing has 

 this on a late cultivation of the crop ? 

 9. Select a good ear and carefully 

 remove its husks. If the stem bear- 

 ing the ear were greatly extended 

 outward, to what would these husks 

 on this new stalk correspond ? Note 

 to what each of the threadlike silks 

 is attached at its inner end. Observe 

 in other ears whether the silks extend 

 outward beyond the husks. Where 

 on the cornstalk were other blossoms 

 that bore stamens and an abundance 

 of pollen grains? What is true of 

 the times of appearance of silks and 

 "tassels"? How will it affect the 

 crop if the weather at such a time 

 FIG. 63. Roots of the is very hot and dry, or too wet and 



corn plant. , , Q 



cold? 



(b) A Study of Ears of Corn 



1. Count the number of rows of kernels on an ear of me- 

 dium size, and the number of kernels in one row. Calculate 

 the number of kernels per ear. How many ears are needed 

 to plant an acre? (See paragraph 1, Corn in the Field.) 

 How many bushels? (See paragraph 3.) Of the ear that 

 you examine, state (a) if the kernels fill the ear entirely 

 over the tip ; (b) if there are any places where kernels are 

 missing ; (c) if the base of the ear is large and well filled out. 

 State whether the kernels are crowded close together on the 

 cob, and whether they are of uniform size and shape. 



