22 NATURE STUDY 



those which are formed by the pollen acting' on the 

 ovules of the same flower. 



The pod, because of an imperfect false partition, ap- 

 pears to be four-celled, except near the top. It is green 

 and prickly until the rather large flat black seeds are 

 ripe. Its color renders it inconspicuous, and the prickles 

 protect it, even should it be discovered. But when the 

 seeds are ripe, the pod becomes yellow and splits open, 

 thus permitting the seeds to escape. 



Buds, flowers, unripe and ripe pods are often found on 

 the same plant at one time. 



Metliod : 



On a sunny day take the children, if possible, to a 

 waste lot near by. Direct their attention to the bees. 

 Allow each to gather a flower and a bud. 



Are there any other visitors to the flower ? Why do 

 they go there ? Why do you think so ? Pull off the 

 white part ; touch with the tongue the lower part of it. 

 Put the tongue in the little green cup. What do you 

 taste ? What does the bee do with the honey ? Do all 

 flowers have honey ? How does the bee know that there 

 is honey in this flower ? Can the bee see ? Can it smell ? 

 Does the flower like its visitor ? Why ? 



Even very young children can give intelligent and 

 thoughtful answers to all these questions, except, per- 

 haps, the last two. These it might be better to answer 

 yourself by telling them that the bee is a great help to 

 the flowers, since it carries the dust, which makes the 

 seeds, from one flower to another. Or it might be better 

 to leave these questions unanswered until the children 

 have seen that the great mission of the flower is to pro- 

 duce seed. 



