THE WORK OF FLOWERS 



115 



This matter ft cross-fertilization, however, has a striking 

 application in the case of the corn plant. The best develop- 

 ment of the ear of corn is seen only in case the seed from 

 which it grew was fertilized by pollen from another plant ; 



Fig. 3S. — Flowers of the corn plant. 



but since the tassel which bears the pollen is directly above 

 the silks which receive it, self-fertilization very often takes 

 place. 



By going through a field of corn when the tassels are 

 just coming out and cutting them off as they appear in 



