236 SPECIAL EXERCISES 



8. Willow. Collect, examine and make drawings of both 

 staminate and pistillate flowers. Compare with oak or hickory 

 or walnut. 



9. Corn Kernel. Select good grains of several different 

 kinds of corn, such as flint, soft, pop, and sweet corn. 



Make drawings and write descriptions of each. (Fig. 1.) 



Soak the grains in hot water for 15 minutes. Cut each 

 grain longitudinally and note the following: hull, endosperm 

 (hard and soft starch), germ (scutellum, plumule, radicle) tip 

 cap. (Figs. 1 and 4.) 



Compare, make drawings and write descriptions of each. 



Cut another lot of grains in cross' section ; make drawings 

 and write descriptions. 



Write a brief discussion of the uses and value of each of 

 the varieties used. 



10. Corn Seedling. Germinate a few grains of corn be- 

 tween layers of wet filter paper. 



Examine newly germinated seed and others that have been 

 germinated for several days. Note the plumule, radicle, pri- 

 mary and secondary roots and root-hairs. Make drawings and 

 write descriptions. (Fig. 4.) 



Carefully lift seedlings that have been growing in fine, 

 moist soil. Why does the soil cling to the roots ? Wash gently 

 and examine the root system. 



What does the plant obtain from the soil ? 



11. Large Corn Plant. Examine a full-sized corn plant. 

 Note the nodes and internodes. How many rows of leaves? 

 Where are they attached ? 



Note the sheath and blade of the leaf. Is the leaf parallel- 

 veined or net-veined ? 



Note the brace roots near the base of the plant. 



Where is the ear borne ? 



What part is borne at the top of the plant ? 



