CHAPTEE Y. 

 THE FRUIT AND SEED. 



EXEKCISE XXXYT. 

 The Composition of Fruit. 



FRUIT. The ripened ovary, witli its contents, is 

 the fruit of plants. Whatever adheres to the ovary 

 also becomes part of the fruit. 



In studying fruit, observe with care what parts, 

 besides the pistil, have been concerned in its forma- 

 tion. In describing flowers, you note whether the 

 pistil is inferior or superior ; is there any reason to 

 suppose that inferior fruit would be most likely to 

 have other parts of the flower besides the pistil united 

 with it ? Did you observe the flowers of the cherry, 

 plum, or peach trees, and those of apple and pear 

 trees when they were in blossom ? and if so, will you 

 compare your recollection of them with the appear- 

 ances presented by their fruit ? If you have forgot- 

 ten their structure, perhaps you have kept a descrip- 

 tion of them, and can refresh your memory. 



Observe the ripe fruit of the cherry. Look at 

 the top of the peduncle for scars left by the parts of 

 the fallen flower. Look for a dot at the top of the 

 fruit, showing the place of the style. Has any thing 

 but the pistil entered into the formation of this fruit ? 

 Observe the plum, peach, grape, currant, etc., and see 

 if they are like the cherry in these respects. 



