THE CORN SILK’S PURPOSE 
over the young ear of corn. The silk was thus prevented 
from getting its pollen. It did not wither and die like its 
neighbor on an ear that was not covered. It kept on 
growing in the hope of serving its purpose. It might 
grow for ten days after its neighbor had died. It might 
grow a foot long in its effort to find its way to the open 
where pollen was to be had. 
In the end it would have to give up, and the cob which 
sent it forth would produce no corn. Or half the silk 
might be covered so that it could not get pollen, and half 
left outside the bag. The enclosed half would keep on 
hopefully growing after the other had served its purpose 
and died. But only half of the grains on the cob would 
develop. Many of the defective ears of corn that come to 
the table have had trouble with these silken hands they 
have sent out for pollen grains. 
109 
