180 



QUEEIES AND ANSWERS. 



Vegetable 

 Growth. 



instinctively alight or creep upon the flower, so that their weight causes 

 the pistil to protrude to receive the pollen. A hundred other instances of 

 equally curious character could be quoted. Prof. Beale, of Michigan, 

 has conducted experiments in the covering of flowers with gauze to pre- 

 vent the visitation of the flowers by insects, and reports in many instances 

 no seed set. 



Sexes in 994. Q. What are terms used to indicate the sexes of vegetable plants? 



Flowera. A. When the flowers have stamens alone, the vegetable plant is termed 



a male or staminate plant. When with pistil alone, it is termed female or 

 pistillate. When both male and female organs are found on the same 

 plant, it is termed a moncecious plant. When the male and female organs 

 are found on different plants, it is dimcious. When unsexual or hermaph- 

 rodite flowers are on the same plant, it is termed polygamous. When, 

 male and female flowers are both absent, it is termed neutral. 



995. Q. In Avhat form does the growth of vegetables occur? 

 A. By the laying on of cells or an increase of the whole plant. "Vessels 



producing vessels and cells producing cells." In animals every part of 

 the frame and flesh is renewed from time to time, it being commonly 

 understood there is a complete change every nine or ten years, but in 

 vegetables, except in leaf and bark, there is no renewal of parts once 

 formed, the entire growth is in the line of new matter to be piled on top 

 or on the exterior of that already formed. 



996. Q. Is it a good plan to sow grain with young grass for purposes 

 of protecting it ? 



A. It is a bad plan, as the more vigorous grain smothers the tender 

 grass in the Spring, making it still more tender. Better get your grass 

 in early in the Autumn so as to give it a good start, and let it take its 

 chances, for if well started it won't need grain as a nurse. 



997. Q. Why is the okra almost unknown in Northern markets? 



A. It is preeminently a Southern vegetable, but it can be grown wher- 

 ever sugar corn will flourish. It is little cultivated, however, north of 

 Baltimore ? 



Air in the 998. Q. Do roots of garden vegetables require much air ? 



Soil. A. Yes ; just as much as leaves, as is proven by their death when 



deprived of air or when grown in poisonous gas, as carbonic acid. This 

 shows one of the advantages of deep and frequent culture. Neither 

 leaves nor roots have organs corresponding to the lungs of animals nor 

 to the gills of fish, but they in some way absorb air and make use of it as 

 an absolute necessity. Air at the roots of plants is necessary to present 

 the water of the soil in best condition for absorption by the roots, as they 

 do not absorb water so much as watery vapor, hence air is necessary 

 among other things to absorb the water and prepent it in vapory form. 

 Seed 999. Q. Is there any Government control of the seed business for pur- 



Control, poses of preventing fraud ? 



A. No ! But there might be to advantage. Every department of 

 art or science has its humbug, and it would be strange indeed if 



Sowing 

 Grass. 



Okra. 



