284 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



fruitful. The leaves arise in a true grass-like manner and consist 

 of two parts, the blade, and the sheath that envelops the stem. 

 The leaf blades have a special structure which enables them to 

 roll up under dry conditions when the plant is not receiving suffi- 

 cient water. By rolling up, the evaporation of water is retarded. 

 When supplied with sufficient water the leaves flatten out. 



Corn plants have two types of flowers, the pollen-bearing ones 

 being in clusters at the top known as the " tassel," and the fruit- 

 and seed-developing flowers borne in dense clusters or spikes 

 in the axils of leaves lower down on the stem. This cluster of 

 flowers when matured into fruit becomes the " ear." The pollen- 

 receiving organs on the young ears are spoken of as " silks." 

 Cross-pollination, i.e. the transfer of pollen from the tassel of one 

 plant to the silks of another, produces the best yields. Wind and 

 gravity are the chief agents in distributing the pollen. If pollen 

 from a different strain happens to be brought to the silks, crossing 

 will occur which may result in new characters appearing at once. 

 If crossing is not desired, different strains must not be grown in 

 adjoining plots. 



All cultivated corn is regarded as one species, but there are 

 several sub-groups or sub-species such as flint corn, dent corn, 

 pop corn, and sweet corn. 



1. To what family does corn belong ? 



2. Of what region is corn supposed to be a native ? 



3. What sort of root system does the corn plant develop f 



4. What are " suckers " ? Are they desirable? 



5. How can you tell when com plants are not obtaining enough 



