

 248 PRACTICAL COURSE IN BOTANY 



Practical Questions 



1. Of what use is the brilliant coloring of the camellia? The large 

 flowers of the magnolia ? The perfume of the rose and the violet ? The 

 fetid odor of the ailanthus? (277 ; Exps. 81, 82.) 



2. Are the tastes of insects in regard to odors always the same as ours ? 

 (Exp. 81.) 



3. Have flowers any economic value except for decorative purposes? 



4. Can you name any that are used as food or beverages ? Any that 

 furnish spices and flavorings? Drugs, medicines, or dyes? 



5. What commercial food product is obtained almost entirely from 

 flowers ? 



6. Name some of the flowers that are most valued by the beekeeper. 



7. Mention another important industry that is entirely dependent on 

 flowers. 



8. Name some of the flowers that are most important to the per- 

 fumer. 



9. Why do the seeds of fruit trees so seldom produce offspring true 

 to the stock? (256, 257, 271, 277.) 



10. Would you place a beehive near a field of buckwheat ? Of clover ? 

 Near a strawberry bed ? In a peach orchard ? Near a fig tree ? Under 

 a grape arbor? 



11. Why are very conspicuous flowers, like the camellia, hollyhock, and 

 pelargoniums, so frequently without odor ? 



12. Why is the wallflower "sweetest by night"? (280.) 



13. What advantage can flowers like the morning-glory gain by their 

 early closing? (280.) 



14. Of what use to the cotton plant, Japan honeysuckle, and hibiscus 

 is the change of color their blossoms undergo a few hours after opening ? 

 (277,278/280.) 



15. Why does the Japan honeysuckle, which has run wild so abundantly 

 in many parts of our country, produce so few berries ? (278, 280.) 



16. If the trumpet vine grows in your neighborhood, examine a number 

 of corollas and account for the dead ants found in them. Account also 

 for the large hole (sometimes three quarters of an inch in diameter) often 

 found near the base of the tube. (281.) 



17. Do you see any connection between the greater freshness and beauty 

 of flowers early in the morning, and the activity of bees, birds, and butter- 

 flies at that time ? 



18. The flowers most frequented by humming birds are the trumpet 

 honeysuckle, cardinal flower, trumpet vine, horsemint (Monarda), wild 

 columbine, canna, fuchsia, etc. ; what inference would you draw from 

 this as to their color preferences? 



