INGENUITY IN VARIATION 121 



that central pistil stalk to start an immediate and 

 rapid growth. 



Once planted there, the pollen grain begins to 

 throw out a downward root, into and through 

 the pistil stalk — forming itself into a tube which, 

 extending and still extending, finally taps the 

 egg chamber and makes possible a union be- 

 tween the nucleus of that pollen grain and the 

 egg below which awaits its coming. 



So, to produce a new dianthus, we have but to 

 dust the grains of pollen upon the stigma of that 

 central pistil stalk; and when the flower has 

 withered away, its duty done, we shall soon find 

 within the egg chamber a package of fertile 

 dianthus seeds ready for planting. 



But there arises now a difficulty. While 

 those little packages of pollen dust are there, 

 the central pistil stalk inside keeps shut up 

 tight, and it has no sticky surface on which to 

 dust the pollen and no little fingers to catch 

 and hold it. 



And if we search for another blossom which 

 shows an open, sticky pistil, we shall always find 

 that the pollen packages which once surrounded 

 it have passed away. 



To make a combination between the pollen 

 grains and the egglike seeds, therefore, we find 

 it necessary to search first for one blossom which 



