356 



NATURE-STUDY 



curious inflorescence. The tassel at the top is a cluster of 

 staminate flowers. Note the great quantity of pollen that 

 shakes out when they are ripe. This is carried by the wind 

 to the silk, which forms the stigmas 

 of the pistillate flowers. The ear is 

 really a stalk (cob) on which are 

 ranged in rows the pistillate flowers, 

 which, however, are reduced to al- 

 most nothing but the pistils with the 

 very long stigmatic styles, the silk. This 

 cluster of pistillate 

 flowers is enclosed in 

 a protecting sheath of 

 leaves (the husks). 



Sorghum, sugar cane, 

 and bamboo may be 

 studied in comparison with the other 

 grasses. 



Usejul Plants and Their Products 



A series of interesting and profitable 

 lessons maybe given upon the plants that 

 furnish us with food, clothing, and shel- 

 ter. These are especially appropriate 

 in the lower grades, and can be nicely 

 connected with the geography work. 

 Take up such plants as the grains, in- 

 cluding rice and Indian-corn, sorghum FIG. 152. Ear of Com, 

 and sugar-cane; tea, coffee, and cocoa; 

 fruit and vegetables; the fibre-producing cotton; flax and 

 hemp, and the useful woods. Illustrate with as much of 



F.O. ,. a 



ers from Tassel. 



