FLOWERS 161 



than could be found if they were left to their own efforts 

 in this matter. A chief part of the farmer's work, there- 

 fore, in field, garden, and orchard is to help useful plants 

 propagate. To do this best, he needs to know the methods 



THE LIFE STORY OF A PEAR. 

 Twig, bud, blossom, and fruit. 



by which plants work by themselves. First of all he must 

 understand their flowers. 



111. Flowers. Most plants, including nearly all found 

 in our fields, reproduce themselves through seed. Seed is 

 always formed from parts of a flower. Flowers are not 

 always showy and fragrant, like the flower of the rose. 

 The blossoms of wheat, oats, timothy, or other grasses 

 are very small and have little color. Still the wheat 

 flower is more important to the wheat plant than is the 

 rose flower to the rose plant and much more important 

 to us. 



