100 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



ance. The plant consists of a strong, reedy, jointed 

 stalk, provided with large alternate leaves, almost 

 like flags, springing from every joint. The top pro- 

 duces a bunch of male flowers, of various colours, 

 which is called the tassel. Each plant bears, like- 

 wise, one or more spikes or ears, seldom so few as 

 one, and rarely more than four or five, the most 

 usual number being three : as many as seven have 

 been seen occasionally on one stalk. These ears 

 proceed from the stalk at various distances from the 

 ground, and are closely enveloped by several thin 

 leaves, forming a sheath, which is called the husk. 

 The ears consist of a cylindrical substance, of the 

 nature of pith, which is called the cobb, over the 

 entire surface of which the seeds are ranged, and 

 fixed in eight or more straight rows, each row having 

 generally as many as thirty or more seeds. The 

 eyes or germs of the seeds are in nearly radial lines 

 from the centre of the cylinder ; from these eyes pro- 

 ceed individual filaments of a silky appearance, and of 

 a bright green colour ; the aggregate of these hang 

 out from the point of the husk, in a thick cluster, and 

 in this state are called the silk. It is the office of 

 these filaments, which are the stigmata, to receive the 

 farina, which drops from the flowers on the top, or 

 tassel, and without which the ears would produce no- 

 seed, a fact which has been established by cutting 

 off the top previous to the developement of its flowers, 

 when the ears proved wholly barren. So soon as 

 their office has been thus performed, both the tassel 

 and the silk dry up, and put on a withered appearance. 

 The grains of maize are of different colours, the 

 prevailing hue being yellow, of various shades, 

 sometimes approaching to white, and at other times 

 deepening to red. Some are of a deep chocolate 

 colour, others greenish or olive-coloured, and even. 



