i-i-:RTii.isA'no\' 20I 



the iiitcrcslin^ botanical sii^iiificancc of llic \arious 

 hard and soft fruits, and sec how they all arise 

 from fertilisation. 



Take, for exam()le, the flower of an ap|jlc 

 immediately after fertilisation is effected. The 

 petals fall off, the styles shrivel up and the ovary 

 rapidly enlar<(es ; the tube of the calyx becomes 

 fleshy, and finall}- the well - formed apple is 

 produced. The change, however, does not end 

 here ; in this sta<^e of development the little apple 

 is bitter and is char<^ed with a vegetable acid. As 

 the fruit <^rows on, however, this acid changes into 

 sweet juice varying in flavour according to the 

 species of apple. 



Now let us exainine the interior of the ovary 

 and see what changes have arisen as a consequence 

 of fertilisation. 



The egg cell which has received the pollen 

 grain becomes filled with an embryo, whilst the 

 thin deHcate coat of the ovule develops into strong 

 seed-coats. 



The embryo is the first germ of the young plant 

 that is to be. It is a tin)' speck indeed in its 

 beginning, but deeply interesting to us when we 



