SWEET TEA. 89 



These arc mere empty shells that have not received 

 a portion of the fecuntlathig properties of the farina 

 from the anthers, ^vhich is conveyed from the stigma 

 by means of a sinewy tube on which each Pea is 

 regularly placed ; for should any accident destroy 

 the anthers or blow away the farina from them, the 

 pods would then contain only empty shells which 

 would wither away : but we see, with wondering 

 admiration, that Nature has taken precautions ade- 

 quate to the wants of the plant ; for, on dissecting 

 the flower, the young pod with the stigma will be 

 seen surrounded by the anther, the whole being en- 

 closed by a beautiful folding of the lower petals, 

 which is called the keel, from its form resembling 

 the keel of a boat, and which opens just sufficiently 

 to admit a necessary portion of air : this keel is 

 protected by two other petals, which hang over it 

 like a penthouse, by which name they are frequently 

 called : the upper petal or standard shades the 

 whole from the scorching rays of the sun, and at 

 the same time acts as a vane to turn the flower with 

 its back to the wind, so that the storms cannot reach 

 the opening of the keel and injure the anthers. 

 Thus in a fine day you may see a whole field of 

 blossoms veer round to avoid the winds, with as 

 much exactness as an artificial vane on a tower 

 points out the quarter from whence the wind blows. 

 Sw eet Peas have the best effect in the pleasure- 



