Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-14


functions are performed. We know thai
the Author of nature does nothing in vain
either in the animal or vegetable kingdoms;
and that He gave to this plant such peculiar
constitution and anatomy, that each part or
organ is absolutely necessary TO bring it 10
maturity, or complete its perfection.
The abstraction of any part of it is,
! therefore, opposed to the wise provisions of
nature; and, for obvious reasons. checks
its growth. 1t receives a portion Of its
food and nourishment from the soil, through
the medium Of the roots. and their sprays,
or minute tibrcs, extending several feet from
the stalk or stem, which at as absorbcnts.
But the vegetable fluid, received from the
roots and propelled upwards, undergoes
several chemical actions before it enters the
cob, and before it is finally converted into
that peculiar food which the green ear re-
quIres. Air is as essential to its growth as
heat, and supplies a portion of its nourish.
ment. Indeed, some plants derive their
whole nourishmentfrom the air. The wide
corn blades, like the leaves of trees, decom.
pose carbonic acid. retaining the carbon,
and emitting the oxygen. The blades are,
therefore, IN some measure, respiratory,
and have some slight analogy to the lungs
OF animals, which retain only that part of the
air called oxygen (thc vital part to improve
the state Of the blood and give it its red
colour. We may, therefore, safely con-
clude that the corn-bladc is the organ to
prepare or elaborate the sap propelled into it
from the stem; that from the blade it returns
TO the pith or PUPPY substance Of the stalk !;
that 1t next enters the cob, after having TN.
dcrgonc several stages ofimprovcment; and
that defore it is finally received into the
kernel, it has been "refined and doub!y
refined" until it constitutes that rich sac.
charine juice, which is the nutrimcnt OF, and
gives the sweet favour TO the kernel. We
thus perceive the use of the blades, as well
as the pith, the latter extending through the
whole stalk. This vegetable fluid circulates
through the whole length of the stalk, as
welas the blades. Whether the sap, after it
ascends to the roots into the blades in which
it is elaborated, descends to the roots, nc
cording TO the doctrine which some dis.
,inguished phvsologsts hold in respect to
trees and parental plants. we confecs VIC
have strong doubts. But that there is
some sort of circulation, must be conceded.
1t is probable that the juice, after it asccnds
may descend into certain dubious roots rs
their tops dry and decay.
Although unable, by actual experiment,
TO confute the theory, we can conceive Of
no reason whatever why the sap should
descend into the roots of annual or pcrcn-
nial plants. "The circulation of the sap"
SAYS learned writer, =" is one Of the most
obscure, though important processes, in the
whole vegetable economy" But the fact
that it cIrculates, or flows or moves through
every part of the corn-plant, improving its
state, until the final deposit Of its richest
substance in the kernel, is sufficient to sup
port our main position. If our premises
arc correct, the conclusion irresistibly fol-
lows, that cutting off half the stalk with
nearly all the blades, while the plant is grecu
and growing, before the car comes TO-
maturity, must necessarily check its growth,
because large portion Of the organs, es-
scntial TO complete its perfection, are ab-
stractcd. II is dtsorganizcd in respect to
its natural functions. One source, whence
it derives nourishment, is cut off. The
sap from the roots can no longer be ciabor.
atcd by the blades, and afterwards con-
vcrted into richer and sweeter substance.
The ear consequently sllrinks, the kernel
shrigcls rs it dries; ind the result is, rs has
often been demonstrated by accurate ex-
perimcnts that by means of the multilating
process, the corn turns out to be not so
sweet and palatahlc for food, less in guam
titv, and in weight less than there would
have been, had nature been permitted, in
her own way to bring it 10 maturity.
Farmers often commence topping the
corn so soon as til. kernel is glazed over,
"begps to turn" while ii is Gin the milk"
This is the period when the car is in the
greatest need Of the sacchariuc JUICE, when
all the parts or organs Of the living whole,
through which action is evolved, and which
rcciprocaily act and react, are developing
their energies to produce the desired result,
the maturity of the car. And the several
parts or organs of the plant are rccipro-
cally dependent upon each other for the eX-
crcise ot'their respective functions.
Without the top and the farina, which
falls from it, the corn would newer grow
upon the cob. A silky thread grows out Of
each kernel, and at the precise time when
these threads project beyond the llusks,
when 'thc corn is in the silk" the farina
falls from the top on to the silk, and through
the medium of these threads impregnantcs
each kernel. A miscroscope will disclose