CORN STRUCTURE 97 



(7) Reoord the total number of internodes and their average 

 length on 



(o) a tall plant and on 



(b) a low plant in the same field. 



Leaves. 



(8) (a) Record the number of leaves on an average corn plant. 

 (6) In how many vertical ranks are these arranged? 



(9) (a) Measure the midrib of an average fuU-grown leaf 



and the margin of the same, to determine how 

 much longer the margin is. 



(5) By moving the leaves about, try to ascertain how the 



margin helps the leaves to avoid the pressure of the 

 wind. 



(c) Measure the approximate surface in square inches on 



the two surfaces of a grown corn leaf of average size. 



(d) From (8 a) and (9 c) calculate the probable number of 



square feet of leaf surface on 4000 corn plants borne 

 on an acre. 



Ear-shanks. 



(10) (a) Record the number of nodes between main stem 



and cob on a long ear-shank, 

 (b) Record the average length of five short ear-shanks 

 bearing mature ears, and note whether most of the 

 ears point up or down. 

 Grains. 



(11) (a) Soak grains of corn and separate the coats, the germ, 



and the endosperm. 



(6) Cut cross-wise through a number of kernels of dry 



corn and compare them as to thickness of the 

 horny layer and as to size of germ. 



Literature 



Sargent, F. L. Corn Plants. Boston. 



Harshberger, J. W. Bailey's Cyclo. Agr., Vol. II, pp. 398-402. 

 Hunt, T. F. Cereals in America. New York. 1904. 

 Hopkins, C. G. 111. Expr. Sta., Bui. No. 87. 



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