. Handbook of nature-study for teachers and parents, based on the Cornell nature-study leaflets. Nature study. 662 Handbook of Nature-Study the tips are split and injured. The edges of the com leaf are ruffled and, where the leaf leaves the stalk, there is a wide fold in the edge at either side; this arrangement gives play for a sidewise movement without breaking the leaf margins. The leaf is thus protected from the wind, whether it is struck from above or hori- zontally. The true roots of the com plant go quite deep into the soil, but are hardly adequate to the holding of such a tall, slender
. Handbook of nature-study for teachers and parents, based on the Cornell nature-study leaflets. Nature study. 662 Handbook of Nature-Study the tips are split and injured. The edges of the com leaf are ruffled and, where the leaf leaves the stalk, there is a wide fold in the edge at either side; this arrangement gives play for a sidewise movement without breaking the leaf margins. The leaf is thus protected from the wind, whether it is struck from above or hori- zontally. The true roots of the com plant go quite deep into the soil, but are hardly adequate to the holding of such a tall, slender stalk upright in a wind storm; therefore, all about the base of the plant are brace-roots, which serve to hold the stalk erect—like the stay- ropes about a flagpole. The Ear of Corn The ears of com are borne at the joints or nodes; and the stalk, where the ear presses against it, is hollowed out so as to hold it snugly; this is very suggestive of a mother holding a baby in her arms. In the following ways, the husks show plainly that they are modified leaves: The hu sk has the same structure as the leaf, having paral- lel veins; it comes off the stem like a leaf; it is often green, and therefore does the work of a leaf; it changes to leaf shape at the tip of the ear, thus showing that the husk is really that part of the leaf which usually clasps the stem. If a husk tipped with a leaf is examined, the rain-guard will be found at the place where the two join. As a matter of fact, the ear of com is on a branch stalk which has iDeen very much shortened, so that the nodes are very close together, and there- fore the leaves come off close together. By stripping the husks back one by one, the change from the outside, stiff, green leaf structure to the inner delicate, papery wrapping for the seed, may be seen in all its stages. This is a beautiful lesson in showing how the maize protects its seed, and the husk may well be compared to the clothing of a baby. The pistillate flowers of
Size: 1432px × 1746px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorcomstockannabotsford1, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910
