LIFE ON THE FARM. 



on the stem, and are attached to it directly, with- 

 out any petioles. They are long and ribbon-like, 

 with a very heavy midrib through the center from 

 the base to the tip. They arch upward in a grace- 

 ful curve, the inner part 

 sloping downward to 

 the central shaft, and 

 the outer part sloping 

 downward and away 

 from it. The attach- 

 ment around the base 

 is such as to give them 

 a trough, so that part 

 of the rainfall is carried 

 to the stalk to find its 

 way to the roots of the 

 plant, and the rest is 

 directed away. The 

 leaves wave under the 

 influence of the wind in 

 a plume-like fashion, 

 and the plant as a 

 whole bends and nods 

 with every passing 

 breeze. 



The blossom of corn is divided into two parts, 

 one part being at the very top of the plant, and the 

 other part about half way down the stalk. The 

 part of the blossom at the top is the pollen-bear- 

 ing or staminate part, and the part down on the 



CORN GROWING. 



