hollow tube, the style, and the ovary at the base. At the time of fertilization, a pollen grain from the tassel at the top of the ear lands on top of the stigma. It is a sticky platform, and if a pollen grain lands there, it will“ grow” down the hollow tube to the kernel. When you pull off all the silk from an ear of corn, each strand is attached to its own kernel.
The production of corn has a long history. Corn was used in very early cultures, first domesticated by native people in Mexico over 10,000 years ago.
Our sons took a job one summer when they were in high school detasseling corn. It was a hot, sticky job and they left early each morning to avoid the midday heat. With their buddies, lots of watermelon, insect spray, and a big lunch they brought with them, they got through the days. The tassel was stuffed into a plastic bag and twisted tight so no pollen would fall down onto the ear. This technique is a form of pollination control done to crossbreed or hybridize two varieties of corn. The reason to detassel may have escaped them. They were there to earn a few bucks and probably could care less if the farmer arrived at a different type of corn.
The big business of corn production in this country is a serious endeavor and much research, time, and money are spent on growing the most disease-resistant crop in as little time as possible. Depleting less soil nutrients and improving harvest is also important. Field corn is a big, year-round business, and much different in scope and size than the homegrown sweet we consume each summer.
A friend now promotes a promising business. Her family grows produce each week, and while no sweet corn is in the plans, they offer a variety of ripe vegetables.
When our labor-intensive canning job was finished, the remains were not wasted. The coons and possums that visited our compost pile that night appreciated the leftovers from
our efforts, and friends fed their chickens some of the husks and cobs.
Now there’ s a freezer full of sweet corn we’ ll enjoy this winter. We’ ll later recall the hot days of a Brown County summer, when the corn grew straight and moved gently with the wind. •
To inquire about this or other articles, contact the author at: jpeagleman @ gmail. com
Stoneware pottery handmade in Brown County, Indiana
812-398-8010 www. HollyPots. com
Main Street Shoppes( Old School Way) 59 E. Main St. Suite G. • Nashville
The Totem Post
78 S. Van Buren St. Nashville, IN 812-988-2511 TheTotemPost. com
~ Since 1952 ~
• Genuine Native American Jewelry
• Zuni Fetishes
• Sterling Silver Jewelry
• Copper Jewelry
• Minnetonka Moccasins
• Pendleton • Knives
~ Open all year ~
COMMON GROUNDS
COFFEE BAR It’ s like a coffee shop in a living room( with things to amuse you)
Hot, Cold & Frozen Drinks • Selection of Teas Froothies( our fruit smoothies)
Famous for Cheesy Eggs & Toast • Pastries • Quiche
66 N. Van Buren, Nashville( Molly’ s Lane behind the red door) Opens 8:00 am M-Sat; 9:00 am Sun( Closed Wed) 812-988-6449
Sept./ Oct. 2025 • Our Brown County 61