LXDIVIDUAL EXERCISES FOR SUMMER TERM 325 



Optional Study 15. A Com Record 



Com is King ! 



This beautiful plant, that our forefathers, when thc}' first 

 came to America, found growing in little patches about the 

 camps of the red men, has become our great staple. The 

 following study of its natural history may be made in any 

 convenient cornfield. It calls for careftd obser\^ations at 

 least once a week (oftener in flowering time) on germination, 

 leaf -unfolding, stooling, prop-root fomiation, tasseling, 

 * 'shooting" of ears, responses to drouth, or to wind, ripening, 

 etc. ; in short, on all phases of the behavior of the plant. 



The record may be in the form of a diary with weekly (or 

 more frequent) entries covering: 



temperature, rainfall, windstorms, 

 and other relevant weather condi- 

 tions, 

 condition of soil as to tilth, weeds, 



etc. 

 tillage. 



average height at each date of record, 

 details of its development and be- 

 havior, 

 birds, animals, insects, ftmgi, etc., 

 found causing injury. 



I. 



Physical factors 

 of environment 



2. Growth 



3. Enemies 



