APPENDIX. 489 



begins to joint. Like many other plants, com is an inside grower, (en- 

 dogenous,) consisting at first, of whorls or circles of leaves one within 

 the other; over lapping each other on either hand until the entire stalk 

 is grown. It is interesting to notice right here the difference between 

 the grasses. Some are hollow while others have a pith. The leaves 

 are the lungs of the plant. Their very important office is to take on or 

 absorb carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere. Having received this 

 the plant appropriates the carbon to its own use and at the same time 

 throws off oxygen. This operation goes on only in the day time, the 

 sun's light and heat being the great resolving agent. The sheathes do 

 the same thing, and also serve as a protection and band to the tender 

 shoot. The husk at first envelopes the cob and silks, afterwards the 

 grain. It feeds both cob and corn with elements obtained from the at- 

 mosphere. The cob is the axis on which the kernels are regularly set 

 It is the direct feeder after the embryo grain is formed and fecundated 

 by the pollen through the silk. The tassel (staminate) contains the 

 male, and the silk (pistillate) the female part of the plant. The pollen 

 from the tassel falls upon and fertilizes the silk and the silk the grain. 

 If from weakness or other causes the silk fails to come out of Uie husk 

 to be impregnated by the pollen the corn fails to appear or develop on 

 the cob ; hence the vacant rows so frequently seen on the cob. 



A further examination of the stalk shows an ear, or the commence- 

 ment of an ear on every joint that has a groove. Generally about two- 

 thirds have it, and in every one is seen an embryo ear undeveloped. 

 The question arises right here, why this incomplete development? I 

 have contended for several years that every such organization would de- 

 velop on every grooved joint were proper attention given to selecting 

 and sowing seed, to proper culture and proper plant-food. 



Like all other cereals, corn has so deteriorated by bad treatment that 

 it has not health enough to mature even one good ear to the stalk. With 

 ordinary treatment all other grasses develop their heads or ears to some 

 extent, and why should not corn do the same ? For several years I 

 have been giving corn and wheat some attention. I find corn suscepti- 

 ble of much greater improvement than most farmers are willing to admit. 

 It is not hi the province of this article to give the results of experi- 

 ments. I will, however, give one to prove that there is much room for 

 improvement of corn. Several years ago I commenced selecting my 

 seed corn in the field, taking only those stalks that ripened earliest and 

 that had not less than two good ears. These were cut up as soon as the 

 husk was brown and the ear well glazed, and shocked in the field to 

 cure. After standing a month or more the top ears only were saved 

 for seed. 



