ii^i Home Nature- Study Course. 



APPLE BLOSSOMS. 



Lesson XXVII. 



Purpose. — To make the pupil familiar with the apple blossom and 

 the way the fruit is developed from it. 



Method. — This lesson may be given in March from twigs placed in 

 water and forced into early bloom in the warmth of the schoolroom; 

 or it may be given later in the spring when the apple trees are in bloom. 

 In the latter case the lesson should begin before the blossoms or leaves 

 appear so that the buds may be studied. 



Observations by pupils. — 



(i). How are the apple buds protected during winter? 



(2). As the buds open what becomes of the protecting scales? Can 

 you see where the scales were after they have fallen? How does this 

 help us to tell the age of a twig or branch? 



(3). Which appear first as the bud opens, the flowers or the leaves? 

 Do both come from the same bud? Do all the buds produce both flowers 

 and leaves? 



(4). Take an apple blossom before it has opened; describe its stem; 

 its stipules; its calyx. What shape are the lobes of the calyx? Why 

 do we call them lobes of the calyx instead of sepals ? 



(5). Sketch or describe an open apple blossom, showing shape and 

 arrangement of petals. Can you see the calyx lobes when you look into 

 the open blossom ? Are the petals all cup-shaped ? Are the petals more 

 pink on the outside or the inside? Why do the apple blossoms often 

 seem so pink in the bud and so white when open ? 



(6). How many stamens are there? Are they all the same length? 

 Are they scattered in an even ring or are they attached in groups? 

 Can you see how many groups there are? What is the color of the 

 anthers ? 



(7). How many pistils do you see? Are their ovaries united at the 

 base? What is the color of the stigmas? 



(8). After the petals fall what remains? What part develops into 

 the apple? Does this part enclose the pistils? How can you tell in the 

 ripe apple if one stigma failed to receive any pollen? 



(9). What is the position of the calyx lobes directly after the petals 

 fall? Do they change later? What has this to do with combating the 

 codling moth? Can you see the calyx lobes in the ripe apple? Watch 

 an apple develop, looking at it once a week, and note what parts of the 

 blossom are retained in the apple. 



