42 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



known and written about. So it must be Ameri- 

 can in origin. 



The corn kernel is a little plant, wrapped up 

 with the provision that is to sustain it through the 

 period between its sprouting in the ground, and 

 the appearance of root and leaf blade, capable of 

 supporting the plant independently. All these 

 possibilities and good promises are wrapped up in 

 a tough, waterproof skin, the hull of the grain. 

 The clear, horny portion under the hull is rich in 

 protein, the muscle-making part. The germ, 

 or embryo corn plant, is rich in oil. The white 

 filling of the kernel is starch, the solid, granular 

 portion that was soft and sweet when the corn was 

 "in the milk." It is quite possible in corn to 

 separate the parts bearing oil, protein and starch, 

 at a glance, for the germ has a distinct shape and 

 outline, and the dark proteid matter contrasts 

 in color with the white starch. 



CORN PRODUCTS 



What a good all-around food the maize is! Do 

 we use it as it deserves? Nothing tastes better 

 when one is hungry than corn muffins, or a loaf 

 of "Johnny-cake." The corn flavor is unex- 

 celled when good cooking brings it out. What 



