Agriculture for beginners . el, and little or none is received on thestigmas below. In the corn plant the stamens and pistils are separate ; thatis, they do not occur on the same flower, although they areon the same plant. This is also true of the cucumber (see Fig. 35). In many plants, however, such as the hemp, hop, sassafras, willow, and others, the staminate parts are on one plant and the pistillate parts are on another. This is also true in several other cultivated plants. For example, in some strawberries the stamens are absent or useless ; that is, they bear no good pollen. In such case
Agriculture for beginners . el, and little or none is received on thestigmas below. In the corn plant the stamens and pistils are separate ; thatis, they do not occur on the same flower, although they areon the same plant. This is also true of the cucumber (see Fig. 35). In many plants, however, such as the hemp, hop, sassafras, willow, and others, the staminate parts are on one plant and the pistillate parts are on another. This is also true in several other cultivated plants. For example, in some strawberries the stamens are absent or useless ; that is, they bear no good pollen. In such cases the grower must see to it that near by are strawberry plants that bear stamens, in order that those plants which do not bear j^oUen may become pollinated; that is, may have pollen carried to them. After the stigma has been supplied with pollen, a single pollen grain sends a threadlike sprout down through the stigma into the ovary. This process, if successfully completed, is called fertilization. Fig. 35. Cucumher Blossoms. 46 AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS EXERCISE Examine several flowers and identify the parts named in the lastsection. Try in the proper season to find the pollen on the maple,willow, alder, and pine, and on wheat, cotton, and the morning-glory. How fast does the ovary of the apple blossom enlarge? Measureone and watch it closely from day to day. Can you find any plants thathave their stamens and ovaries on separate individuals ? SECTION XV. POLLINATION Nature has several interesting ways of bringing about pol-lination. In the corn, willow, and pine the pollen is pickedup by the wind and carried away. Much of it is lost, butsome reaches the stigmas, or receptive parts, of other corn,willow, or pine flowers. This is a very wasteful method, andall plants using it must provide much pollen. Many plants employ a much better method. They havelearned how to make insects bear their pollen. In plants ofthis type the parts of the blossom are so shaped and soplaced as to depo
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