QUERIES AND ANSWERS. o 



our Northwestern States, the new lands of the La Platte and Australia, 

 are generally tall and muscular, which physical condition is attributed to 

 the richer glutenous wheat grown on new lands. 



11. Q. What advantage is there in the growing of early wheats over wheat, 

 late wheats ? 



A, Early wheats are desirable as their habit more quickly removes 

 them from the danger of red rust. 



12. Q. What is pollen ? PoUen. 

 A. It is the fertilizing agent of plants, consisting of a yellow powder 



formed of cells of from ^^^ to j-^j^ of an inch in diameter, each containing 

 minute granules from y^^ij ^^ au^o^ of an inch in diameter. These minute 

 granules produced by the stamens must be brought in contact with the 

 pistil, and one or more pass into and through it till it reaches the base of 

 the pistil. The pollen reaches the pistil by various means, as by the vio- 

 lent bursting of the stamens, by currents of air and by insects. The 

 length of time over which the pollen of ordinary plants retains its vitality 

 varies from a few hours to many days, with a number of plants for many 

 months, and with a few plants for many years. The quantity of pollen 

 produced is enormous, the sulphur showers from pine forests consisting 

 of pollen. Some plants producing 250,000 grains to the single flower. 



13. Q. "What vegetables will mix, if planted in proximity? °ti^n*"^*" 

 A. Only those of the same family, as for example, beans with beans. 



It is impossible to mix beans with peas, or squashes with tomatoes. Some 

 vegetables looked upon as distinct, as for example, watermelon, can- 

 taloupe, squashes, cucumber, pumpkin and gourds, are all of one family, 

 and will mix one with the other. 



14. Q. Will round-podded peas stand more cold, wet weather than Peas. 

 wrinkled peas ? 



A. Yes. Wrinkled peas, which are soft, are seldom ripened with the 

 same completeness as round peas, which are hard, and they are more 

 likely to decay under the same soil conditions — decomposition setting in 

 earlier — in fact, they have less vitality and less physical vigor. 



15. Q. What is a gourd ? Gourd. 

 A. Scientifically, it may be defined as a member of that family from 



■which has sprung all the varieties of squashes and pumpkins, which 

 edible fruits are yet comprised in the same general classification with 

 many which are unedible. The edible varieties are those botanically 

 indicated as maxima, mochata and pepo ; the first having stalks round, 

 ■without furrows, and with foliage large, broad, kidney-shaped, and 

 covered with hairs ; examples, Valparaiso, Hubbard, Mammoth. The 

 second with stalks slightly furrowed, swollen where they join the fruit, 

 leaves lobed or angular, deeply indented and bloated with air bubbles, 

 seeds hairy and covered with a silvery membrane ; examples, Canada 

 Crookneck, Yokohama. The third with stalks alender, fruit stems five- 

 sided and becoming woody, foliage deeply indented and hairy ; examples, 

 White Bush, Vegetable Marrow, Cococella, Tours. The unedible varie- 



