230 



Difficulty of transportation makes this the next to last of our experi- 

 ments and lack of time forces us to take leave of our subject. But you 

 must not think that I have told you half of the interesting things about the 

 most interesting American crop. Do you know what corn silks and tassels 

 are for? Do you know anything of the minute structure of the maize ker- 

 nel? Do you know how and why the corn leaves roll up on a parching hot 

 day? Do you even know why it is that when you plant white corn, white 

 corn comes up and when you plant yellow, up comes yellow? If you know 

 the answer to this last question and can expound it satisfactorily, do so, for 

 nobody knows at present. There is a lot to be learned concerning corn. 

 There is a lot to be learned, for that matter, about everything rural. And 

 that's what makes country life worth while. 



And here's the last simple experiment. It illustrates why the farmer 

 ''works" his crops. Take a plain lump of sugar, as I do, sprinkle its top 

 loosely with pulverized sugar and dip it thus in ink. You see how quickly 

 the ink rushes up to the top of the compact lump and how quickly it stops, 

 and stays stopped, when it meets the loosely piled mulch of pulverized 

 sugar. That top layer stops up the pores, and keeps the soil water from 

 evaporating away. This, not to kill the weeds, is the first reason why 

 farmers take the trouble to ''work" their crop four or five times during 

 the season. 



To those of you who have been interested in this little show of ours, 

 we extend invitation to visit the Agricultural High School at Sparks, 

 Maryland, at any time, and you will see some real experiments. And 

 you will see many other interesting things. Even the students find it inter- 

 esting. 



I thank you for your interested attention. 



[Experimental portion of demonstration and corn breeding talk was 

 repeated at the Philadelphia Bourse before the members of the Grain 

 Exchange.] 



Mrs. Smith: We are all interested in successful farming and I will 

 now introduce to you Mr. Honeycutt, of Illinois, who is going to speak to 

 us this evening on this subject from a business standpoint. 



