112 
FIRST BOOK. 
these flowers, but from spikes of blossom lower 
down the stalk. We mostly find from two to 
five of these spikes on a plant. 
3. Pollen, or " flower-dust " grows thickly upon 
the ''tassel" flower at the top of the plant, and 
the wind carries it on to the lower flowers. Then 
the seeds begin to grow. But they would not 
grow if the pollen did not first fall upon the 
flowers. 
4. After the tassel has done its work of giving 
pollen, it is of no more use to the plant, so it 
withers away. 
The cob is the pithy part which holds the seeds. 
These grow in straight rows on the cob, but the* 
number of rows is not always the same. We have 
the eight, ten, twelve, and twenty-four rowed 
kinds of corn. 
5. The seeds are white in some kinds, red in 
others, and yellow in others; they differ, too, in 
shape. When they are quite ripe and hard, and 
the husks have turned white, it is time to gather 
the crop. This must, of course, be done in dry 
weather, or the corn might mildew and spoil. 
The ears are then stored until the corn is needed, 
as it keeps best if left in them. 
6. Men who plant corn have not to wait long 
for a harvest to reward them for their work. In 
hot lands, like Jamaica, they may gather a crop 
