THE FLOWER MARKET 99 



some have no smell at all. These pinks and 

 roses are sweet, but the yellow ones over there 

 are very sour ; why is that, dear Ruby-throat ? " 



But instead of answering her last question, 

 Ruby-throat said, " You have forgotten the chief 

 thing : the flower is the bearer of the seed baskets, 

 and that is its reason for being. Lay one of those 

 wild roses on your hand and look at it carefully, 

 beginning with the stem. 



44 You see that the stem swells to a green cup- 

 shape, ending in the five little pointed leaves that 

 wrapped the bud." 



" Yes ; and inside that are five pink leaves 

 fastened on at the bottom ; they are called petals. 

 I know that, anyway." 



" And again, inside of the petals ? " 



" A lot of little threads in a circle, each with a 

 puff of yellow powder for a head, and inside the 

 circle, a bunch of green knobs that come from 

 the stem-cup." 



" That is right. Now of all those parts in 

 what is called the flower, only two are absolutely 

 necessary to the growing of the seed : the lunch 

 basket, holding the seed-germs, waiting for their 

 food, of which the knob is the handle, and the 

 balls of golden powder, which is the life-dust, 

 the food to nourish the speck of life first until it 



