"
"I didn't know corn had a blossom," said Mab.
"Yes," said her father, "it has. Part of the blossom is up top here, on
these things that look like long fingers sticking out," and he pointed to
the upper part of the stalk. "On these fingers grows a sort of fine dust,
called pollen, and unless this falls down from the top of the corn stalk,
and rests on the silk which grows out from the ear, there would be no more
corn seed. Or, if corn seed, or kernels, did form on the ear, they would
be lifeless, and when planted next year no corn would grow from them. The
pollen dust and the silk must mingle together to make perfect ears of
corn, so don't pull off the silk, even if you do want to make it into hair
for your doll."
Mab promised she would not, though she loved the feel of the soft corn
silk. Then she and Hal noticed where some of the light yellow pollen had
already been blown by the wind down on the silk to help make the perfect
ear of corn.
As the children walked along through the garden with Daddy Blake they
heard voices over the fence where Mr. Porter lived. Then they heard Sammie
calling:
"Oh, Daddy! Look what I got! It's a big green bug, an' Roly-Poly is
barkin' at him! Come quick!"
"I hope Roly-Poly isn't making any more trouble as he did with the fly
paper," said Mr.
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