BREAD 5 



The pistillate flowers are developed within the leaf -sheath 

 at the nodes of the stem, and consist of a rachis called the 

 " cob " with the ova on it in rows, a long thread attached 

 to each embryo called the " silk," the whole covered by a 

 mass of imbricated leaves folded together quite closely at 

 the tips called the "husks." The whole organ is called 

 the " ear." On account of the ease with which the pollen is 

 carried by the wind, varieties which are wanted to come out 

 true must be grown at some distance from each other. 



In the United States, taking the annual average of the 

 years 1871-81, its area was more than 52 per cent, of that 

 devoted to cereals, and its value greater than that of all 

 the other crops combined. 



In harvesting there are two methods. First, where the 

 corn is grown for the grain alone, it is allowed to stand 

 untouched in the field till the grain is matured and hard ; 

 the ears are then husked from the stalks, which are left to 

 be trodden down by cattle or ploughed into the soil. The 

 best grain is thus obtained. 



The second, or more general method, is to cut the entire 

 mass of the crop near the ground as soon as the grain is 

 glazed on the surface and the fodder is changed from a 

 dark to a light green, and to set it in what are called 

 " shocks " or *' stooks," either as loose stalks or after it has 

 been tied in bundles. When the grain is sufficiently dry 

 to store, the ears are husked and the whole crop taken from 

 the field. 



Taking the value of both corn and fodder into account, 

 the latter is the better method. 



Porcher says that the tender green ears, stripped of leaves 

 and then roasted by a quick fire till the grain is brown. 



