58 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



roots in the ground and green leaves spreading out in the 

 air. In another hundred days, or even less, the corn may 

 be in the shock. "What has happened meanwhile? 



Corn roots. First, the developing corn plant had to ex- 

 tend its root system deep and wide in the ground. It has 

 been shown that in thirty days after planting the roots of 

 ccrn plants in adjacent rows meet and interlace. They fill 

 the whole surface of the cornfield with a network of roots, 

 and in many cases these roots extend several feet downward. 

 While the roots' are reaching everywhere in the surface soil, 

 the stalks are reaching upward and spreading out their broad 

 blades to the sun and air. 



Leaves and blossoms. The corn plant does more than 

 grow tall and strong; it throws out brace roots enabling it 

 to resist the winds. It produces broad leaves in such a way 

 that the wind may bend them and toss them with little dan- 

 ger of breaking them; for the leaves are many, broad, and 

 long, in order to give the corn plant enough feeding surface 

 exposed to the sun and air. The corn plant has a wonderful 

 contrivance for producing its fruit, as explained in a former 

 paragraph. Silk and tassel are the flowers of the corn plant. 

 Every future grain on the ear is at the lower end of a long 

 thread of silk, but the grain can not develop until a particle 

 of pollen from some tassel falls upon its tip and grows down 

 the silk to fertilize the seed. 



During its short growing season the corn plant may grow 

 to a height of from ten to fifteen feet, and produce an ear or 

 more of corn. A good ear of corn may contain a thousand 

 or more kernels. 



