The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-18
Can a COrnstalk Count?

Odu d OUl uCOdlh OOuul
Some folks pretend to believe that
everything in this world comes by
chance, that nature is vast machine,
and that there is no God. But there
is one difficulty in this theory, and
that is, how does cornstalk learn to
count?
An ear of Indian corn, or maize,
has certain number of grains or
Kernels, set in sockets, which are
arranged in rows from the bottom to
top of the central cob. Usually these
rows are straight; sometimes the
kernels seem to be thrown together
at haphazard, but in such cases we
shall find them to be arranged in
spiral rows around the cob, rather
than in straight lines. Sometimes
if the corn is peculiarly unthrifty
there are but four of these rows,
sometimes eight. sometimes ten,
twelve, fourteen, sixteen, twenty,
twenty four and sometimes even
forty rows extending from the bot
tom to the top of the cob. But who
has ever seen five rows, seven rows,
eleven rows, fifteen rows, or any odd
or irregular number of rows or ker-
nels upon an ear of corn?
Now if everything is arranged by
chance, why are these kernels placed
in rows anyway? The corn would
be just as good if the corn was crowd
ed in at haphazard. But why are
these rows always counted out in
even numbers ? Can a cornstak
count? Why is it that the kernels of
corn from an ear having eight rows,
when planted produce eight rowed
corn? If stalk of corn has four
ears on it, why does not one have
seven rows. another eleven rows, and
another fifteen rows? Why are there
no mistakes made? There are mill
lions on millions of bushels of corn
raised every year, and chance does
not know the difference between odd
and even numbers, and still every
one of these ears of corn has an even
number of rows of kernels upon it.
Does kernel of corn know the diff.
ference between odd and even num-
bers? Does a cornstalk count? If
80, how did it learn?
If boy had two rows of buttons
on his jacket, and six buttons in
row. should we say that they were
placed there by chance? Would
anybody believe us if we did say so :
Chance might mix and shower but
tons through all eternity, and never
get two rows of buttons alike on
boys jacket. Such things are not
done by chance. They are done by
some one who counts, plans, and
carefully arranges things in accord
ance with ideas of symmetry and
beauty.
There is more counting in the
WORtSk NSidG-~S HtIu III lIe
cornfield. The leaves of plants are
all counted off. Starting from GER
tain leaf or any plant, we shall find
the next leaf above it is never di, ect-
ly over it, but is set in spiral. and
the next one still further upward and
around, until at last they circle en-
tirely around the stem of the plant
or branch. and leaf stands exactly
above the first, are in all individual
plants or trees of each species exactly
the same. Thus if we look for leaf
which stands directly above the first,
in the grasses it will the second leaf
In sedges, the third. in the ounce
and raspberry bush the fourth, in the
apple and cherry tree the fifth, in the
peach and pear the sixth, in the holly
and aconite the eighth, in the house
leek and the cones of the white pine
the thirteenth, in certain other pine
cones the fifty. fifth, and in all leaves
accurately counted off.
Such mathematical principles APP,
pear in all nature. Fruits, flowers,
plants, planets, men. beasts, seeds,
crystals, sickness, health, life and
death are all ruled on principles of
mathematical law; and he who in.
vestigates the facts will find no diff.
Guilty in believing that "the very
hairs of your head are numbered"