52 



CORN 



Each ear is borne upon a shank which at first holds the shoot 

 upright along the side of the stalk, but, which, as a rule, later allows 

 the matured ear to droop and even to hang, because of increased 

 weight of the ear and lack of rigidity in the shank itself. The shank 



EAR IN NATURAL POSITION ON STALK. 



Note That Its Shank Lies in the Groove. The Outer 



Husks are Shorter Than the Inner Ones. 



fits in the groove of the internode and appears jointed just as does the 

 stalk itself. As many as ten or more internodes are present. At each 

 node a husk is produced, those from the lower nodes overlapping 

 those above. The number of husks and their coarseness depends 

 upon the season, the soil and the variety. The place of appearance of 



