CHAPTER III 

 DESCRIPTION OF THE CORN PLANT 



Under the head "Biological Origin" (page 15) it is 

 seen that corn, through a process of evolution, probably 

 came from some branched, grass-like plant resembling 

 teosinte. In Fig. 13 is shown a drawing of a com plant, 

 with leaves removed, illustrating the grass-like character. 



The main stem is divided by nodes. Below the ground, 

 the nodes are very close together and give rise to roots; 

 at the surface they give rise to branches or tillers and 

 also roots, and above ground to leaves and ears. 



The branches or tillers correspond in detail to the main 

 stem, having in all cases as many nodes and leaves as the 

 main stem above the point of attachment. The ear is 

 only a modified branch, as the ear stem has exactly the 

 same number of nodes as the main stem above, and the ear 

 corresponds in many details to the tassel. 



11. The root. — When a kernel of maize germinates there 

 is produced, first, a root from the tip end of the seed. A 

 few hours later the stem will appear at the upper end of 

 the germ chit. At nearly the same time two, roots will be 

 sprouting from about the median point between root and 

 stem. These are the " temporary" roots and maintain the 

 plant for only a short time. When the corn plant is 

 about six to ten days old, whorls of permanent roots begin 

 to develop at a point about one inch below the ground 

 surface. The seed may be planted 1 to 5 inches deep, 



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