38 



NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



leaved stems. Soon snow-white blossoms appear, with five deli- 

 cate petals. 



Numerous yellow stamens, bearing heads of pollen, are seen 

 within, while numerous pistils grow up to receive the pollen. 



Now, buzzing in the summer sun, come the busy bees, seeking 

 for honey in the sweet-scented flowers. They carry the pollen 

 from blossom to blossom, and the seeds begin to ripen. Each of 

 these strawberry pistils has a separate seed box, and within 

 this seed box grows the seed. 



Now the blossom falls off, and the top of 

 the flower stalk begins to swell, bearing the 

 little brown seeds on its surface. It swells 

 more and more, growing big, and red, and 

 juicy, and forms the delicious strawberry 

 we find so welcome in early summer. 



Meanwhile the busy plant has been 

 throwing out its long, pale runners in all directions. 



The little runners feel around on the moist earth, till they 

 find a suitable place. 



Then they form roots which sink into the earth, and commence 

 growth as new plants. 



TOP OF FLOWER STALK 

 SWELLING 



STRAWBERRY RUNNER 



