SEEDS 



59 



Fig. 13. A Daisy-like flower. A, A head of Pot Marigold. Note that this is not a 

 single flower, but a bunch of small florets, the showy sorts at the outside are ray florets; 

 those toward the center are tubular and called disc florets. The ray florets are often 

 only female flowers, but the disc florets are bisexual. B, A ray floret. Note the two 

 forked stigma of the pistil, the single petal and the large ovary. C, A disc floret. 

 Note the feathery stigma of the pistil; the ring of stamens surrounding the pistil, and 

 the five parted corolla (See page 58) 



POLLINATING TOMATOES 



In the Tomato the stamens form a ring (see fig. 14) surrounding 

 the pistil which protrudes beyond them. In bright sunshine, the 

 blossom opens, the stamens ripen their pollen and shed it. It is 

 a simple process to hold some sort of small wooden spoon beneath 

 the flower. Then tap the flower with the other hand. The pollen 

 will be shed into the spoon and the pistil 

 may be carefully dipped into the pollen. 

 When Tomatoes are forced, artificial 

 pollination of this sort is necessary. The 

 worker goes through the house about noon 

 and pollinates all flowers which are open. 

 If the Tomatoes are being grown during 

 the Winter it will be found that on sunny 

 days more pollen is produced. On these 

 bright days the pollen should be put in a 



Fig. u.-Tomato blossom, small glass bottle and used during the 

 Note the ring of stamens sunless period; pollen will keep, in a bottle 



surrounding the pistil . , A i j * i i TJ.U 



lightly corked, lor several weeks. In the 



Springtime hand pollination is not necessary if the vines are vigor- 

 ously shaken. 



