Fl'.R'ni.IZA'irON 



51 



Mni7.e, 1. A young enr cut through the 

 middle 'engthwise. Sk, Sk, the main 

 stalk; Sk', tin- Ijrani-li stalk which beai's 

 the ear; Sli, slicatli <if tlit leaf enfoldinj^ 

 the whole ear; RG, rain guard; B, blade 

 of the same leaf; H, husks; Sg, stigmas 

 ("Silk"j Tirotrudins l)e\-on.I the iuisks. 



II. A single spikelet of the ear, showing 

 the bracts (C, C, D, E, D', B') and the 

 ovary (O) and the lower part of the 

 style (Sy) of the single pistil. Enlarged. 



III. Upper part of stigma, showing the 

 delicate hairs that cover it. Enlarged. 



(Original.) 



unites with the egg' cell, which 

 has been formed within the 

 ovule. "I'his constitutes the act 

 of fertilization. But one grain 

 is required for the fertilization 

 of each ovule. The fertilized 

 ovule immediately begins to 

 grow and together with the 

 surrounding ovary, forms the 

 kernel rif corn. The silks at 

 the butt of the ear are the first 

 to appear and the first, as a 

 rule, to be pollinated. The mid- 

 dle kernels are next. The com- 

 plete fertilization of the ti[) 

 kernels of the ear depends 

 upon the continuance of good 

 weather and the late tasseling 

 of other nearjjy stalks in the 

 same field. Warm, balmy 

 weather, with a slight l^reeze, 

 is ideal for the transfer of 

 corn pollen. Dashing rains at 

 this season of tne year wash 

 the pollen from the tassel, 

 and a moist atmosphere pre- 

 vents the grains from floating 

 about. 



The developing kernel is fed 

 from within the cob by a single 

 fibror vascular bundle which ex- 

 tends directly to the stalk. 

 This duct, in its course through 

 the cob, passes between the 

 soft white cellular pith and the 

 woody portion and enters a 

 passage-way through this 

 woody portion to the base of 

 the kernels. The Dracts about 

 the base of the ovary become 

 the colored chaff of the ma- 

 tured cob. 



