Cultivated-Plant Study 665 



books during the summer, when they have opportunities for observing the 

 plant; or it may be studied in the autumn as a matured plant. It may 

 be studied in the school room or in the field, or both. 



Observations on the corn plant — i. Describe the central stem. How 

 many joints, or nodes, has it? Of what use to the plant are these nodes? 

 Are the joints nearer each other at the bottom or the top of the plant ? 



2. Where do the leaves come off the stem? Describe the relation of 

 the bases of the leaves to the stem. Of what use is this to the plant ? 



3. Note the little growth on the leaf where it leaves the stalk. 

 Describe how this prevents the rain from seeping down between the stalk 

 and the clasping leaf. What danger would there be to the plant if the 

 water could get into this narrow space? 



4. What is the shape of the leaf ? Describe the veins. Does the leaf 

 tear easily across? Does it tear easily lengthwise? Of what use to the 

 leaf is this condition ? 



5. Are the edges of the corn leaf straight or ruffled ? How does this 

 ruffled edge permit the leaf to turn without breaking? Describe at 

 length the benefit the com plant derives from having leaves which cannot 

 be broken across and that can bend readily sidewise as well as up and down. 



6. Describe the roots of the com plant. Describe the brace-roots. 

 Explain their use. 



7. Describe all the ways in which the com plant is strengthened 

 against its enemy, the wind. 



Observation on the ear of corn — 8. Where on the corn plant are the ears 

 borne? Are two ears borne on the same side of the stalk? Remove an 

 ear, and see-how the stalk is changed to give it room. 



g. Where do the ears come off the stalk in relation to the leaves? 



10. Examine the outside husks, and compare them with the green 

 leaves. What is there to suggest that the corn-husk is a leaf changed to 

 protect the seed? Do you think that the husk represents that portion of 

 the leaf which clasps the stalk? Why? Describe how the inner husk 

 differs from the outer in color and texture. Describe how this is a special 

 protection to the growing kernels. 



11. After carefully removing the husk, examine the silk and see if 

 there is a thread for every kernel. Is there an equal amount of silk lying 

 between every two rows? Do you know what part of the com flower is 

 the comsilk? What part is the kernel? 



12. How many rows of kernels are thereon an ear? How many ker- 

 nels in a row? How many on the whole ear? Do any of the rows disap- 

 pear toward the tip of the ear? If so, do they disappear in pairs? Do 

 you know why ? Are the kernels on the tip of the ear and near the base as 

 perfect as those along the middle? Do you know whether they will 

 germinate as quickly and vigorously as the middle ones? 



13. Study a cob with no corn on it and note if the rows of kernel- 

 sockets are in distinct pairs. This will, perhaps show best if you break 

 the cob across. 



14. Break an ear of com in two, and sketch the broken end showing 

 the relation of the cob to the kernels. 



15. Are there any places on the ear you are studving, where the 

 kernels did not grow or are blasted ? What happened to cause this? 



16. Describe the requisites for a perfect ear of seed-corn. Why should 

 the plant from which the seed-ear is taken be vigorous and perfect? 



