PLANTS. 77 



early as April, and as late as July. After the 

 ground is plowed and harrowed, it is planted in 

 rows about four feet apart, the plants being from 

 one to two feet apart in the row. It is planted 

 with corn drills which plant one or two rows at a 

 time, according to the style of the drill. Those 

 which plant two rows at a time are drawn by two 

 horses, and those which plant only one require but 

 one horse. 



The seeds germinate in a few days, sending up a 

 single blade, as all grasses do, the seed consisting 

 of but one cotyledon. As it grow r s upward, it puts 

 out leaves first on one side then on the other, so 

 that there are two rows of leaves up the stalk on 

 opposite sides; but, as has been said before, these 

 are arranged alternately on the stem. Last of all 

 the tassel and ears appear; and as soon as the 

 grains in the ear are mature the whole plant dies, 

 from the tassel to the lowest roots. 



Most species of the grass family are provided 

 with bulbs or underground stems, and spring up 

 each season from them; but the corn plant has no 

 such underground parts. New corn plants ger- 

 minate from seeds only. It is the same with wheat 

 and oats. Corn, however, has a species of roots 

 rarely found in other cultivated plants. They are 

 called aerial roots. They grow out in circles near 

 the base of the stalk, and are called brace-roots be- 

 cause they brace the stalk of corn against the force 

 of the wind. They appear just before the plant is 



