THE FLOWER. 



I I 



It is quite easy, then, to understand what work the 

 insect does ; it carries the pollen from one flower and 

 leaves it on the stigma of another. One might suppose 

 that this is not necessary ; the stamens and stigmas are 

 so close together in the flower that one would think the 



Fig. I. — Whin (U /ex Etiropa-ius). (i) Young flower seen froni the side, (2) 

 from above after removal of upper sepal, (3) from above after cutting away the 

 upper petal, (4) inside and (5) outside views of middle petals or wings, (6) style, 

 stamen sheath and two lower petals from the side, (7) ovary and style, (b) hairy 

 bracteoles, (j) sepals, {p.ti) upper petal or standard, {p.vi) middle petals or 

 wings, (/. /) lower united petals or keel showing hairs along lower edges, {a) 

 deep bulging on the middle petal which fits over {e) ridge and (r) projection of 

 lower petals, {st. sh.) sheath formed by union of stalks of stamens {st), (o) ovary 

 with fine hairs in front. 



pollen might be put without trouble on the stigma. 

 But the seed is much more vigorous if it is the result of 

 cross-breeding. It has been discovered by breeders of 

 all sorts of animals, — horses, cattle, etc., — that the off- 

 spring is likely to be more vigorous if a cross has been 

 formed and inbreeding avoided. With flowers, fruits, 



