"How very large it is by the side of the other ears of corn, and how closely the grains are set," saidNorah. "No wonder it has such a very strong stem." "Let us now go back to the plant again," said Fred. "Teacher made us think of those long, broad leaves. All the time the ear is growing the leaves fold themselves round it. They cover it up in a sort ofsheath, to protect it.
"When this sheath is no longer wanted the leaves spread open, and the ear peeps out, able to take care of itself.""Maize grows in the warm countries of the world," said Will. "It would never ripen in such cold lands as ours.""As the grains are so large," said Norah, "I suppose this kind of corn is better than wheat or oats or any of the others.""No," said Fred, "you are wrong. The biggest things are not always the best. Maize contains verylittle gluten. It consists mostly of starch. Maize- flour is not good for making bread.
"Maize is used very largely for making corn-flour for puddings and custards. This corn-flour is only the starch of the grain. I daresay Norah could tell us how to get the starch from the maize-flour."SUMMARY
