The Miracle Of Corn

Iowa State University has produced a short, nicely filmed introduction to the hows and whys of corn growing that, unfortunately, doesn't really have an audience. The film follows a single kernel of corn, using simple mathematics to demonstrate the exponential growth which results from that single kernel. With time-lapse photography, viewers are able to see in a handful of moments a process that requires about four months (meaning that they can literally "watch the corn grow"). Although the film offers a basic understanding of the principles of fertilization and pollination, the language and tone of the film posit a teenage and adult audience (although grade-schools are listed on the flyer for the video, the filmmakers have not made the kind of oversimplified explanation that would be suitable and necessary for young children). Junior and senior high schools might get some mileage out of this in introductory agricultural classes, but the program is too short and too basic to be useful at a college level. Both the price and the subject matter make it of limited use to public libraries. Not a necessary purchase. (See JAZZ: WHAT IT IS! for availability.)