My 3yr old wants to know.
2006-06-29 08:22:33 · 9 answers · asked by anewrachel 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
The corn is looking for the money.
Corn kernels, you see, are military officers on half pay - that's why they are called kernels - and they need the money.
When the Spanish came to the New World and discovered corn, thanks to Indians who just a-maized them with this new item, the Spanish began minting money out of the silver they found. The coins they made were hammered on a special tool called a "die," and the resulting squishy silver coin to this day is called a "cob."
So the kernels are just dying to make their fortunes from the cobs.
EDIT:
Just in case you really MEANT your question and want to explain more to your son. Each cob of corn is actually a kind of flower - a seed pod, in fact, very similar in function to the pine cone. When you buy an ear of corn, you'll notice the "corn silk" - that's part of the pollenation system for the corn. Every kernel of corn is a seed.
Birds and animals eat the seeds. So by making a great many on several of the ears of corn, the plant has a better chance of having more plants the next season. it is, in fact, a way of the corn stalk having babies.
The cob is the part of the plant that delivers nutrients to the growing kernels, and holds nutrients for it later before the kernels germinate into plants. People grow the corn to eat, so it is harvested just when the corn is most ripe and ready to eat, and before it "goes to seed." the cob serves several other purposes, but this gets the idea across.
Grow a corn stalk or two in your yard and show him. When the plant produces ears of corn - let him know it is full of Army officers! (No, save that pun for a time when he will understand ....)
2006-06-29 08:29:46 · answer #1 · answered by Der Lange 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure but when I have some the corn is off the cob quickly. It is my favorite.
2006-06-29 15:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by Vonicatripod 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Waiting to be eaten
2006-06-29 15:25:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Waiting to be eaten.
2006-06-29 15:25:36 · answer #4 · answered by chels!?! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just hanging around
2006-06-29 15:25:20 · answer #5 · answered by Judas Rabbi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It hasn't been eaten off yet!
2006-06-29 15:25:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
waiting for him to chew it off
2006-06-29 16:44:56 · answer #7 · answered by JAYNE C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
waiting for him to eat
2006-07-02 02:24:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to a farm and show him how it grows like that !!!!
2006-06-29 15:42:31 · answer #9 · answered by Ginnykitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋