BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



1.7 



(The awl shaped figure in Fig. 2, with ovule at 

 base.) The pollen develops down into this tube 



and fertilizes this embryo 

 seed (ovule) at its base on 

 the little cob. The small, , 

 rough point seen on the 

 round or flat head of a 

 kernel of corn is the point 

 where this silk was at- 

 tached to it. 



The kernel or seed. — 



While but one botanical 



species of corn is culti- 



rSrcXiSS'^Svi??,^^^^^^^ this one may be 



andpalei«. (After Harshberger.) divided luto fivO grOUpS 



or races. Each race is characterized by nu- 

 merous varieties, and these f reelycross-fertilize, 



Fro. 3.— A longitudlDal section of 

 a portion of an ear with female 



SO that two or three types of seed may be found 

 on the same ear. This race difference, so far 

 as the writer knows, was first pointed out by 

 Dr. E. L. Sturtevant.* These races may be de- 

 scribed as follows, and the relative differences 



* Maize: An attempt at classification. By E. Lewis Stur- 

 tevant, M. D., Rochester, N. Y., 1884, p. 10; illustrated. 

 8 



