Woodside. 7 



with well-developed stamens and pistil, but with the calyx 

 small and unopened, and without a corolla. These flowers 

 are exceedingly simple, and are called cleistogamous. You 

 know, of course, that the calyx and corolla are not necessary 

 for the production of seed, and hence their abortion does not 

 count for much. The stamens and pistil, however, are well 

 developed, and arranged so simply that the pollen falls 

 almost directly on the stigma, and ultimately fertilizes the 

 ovules, a very wise provision, seeing that the flowers have no 

 attractive corolla to tempt insects to visit them. It is re- 

 markable, however, that these ill-developed flowers produce 

 more abundant seed than the sweet-scented, and, so far as 

 the floral beauty of the flowers is concerned, more perfectly 

 developed ones. 



We will make a detour up the lane for a short distance. 

 What is that wealth of white blossom we see ? It is not so 

 dense as the masses of summer snow which the hawthorn 

 bears, but the blossoms are larger and quite as beautiful. 

 As we approach it we see that it is that prime woodland 

 favourite, the wild cherry. So delicate do the blossoms 

 appear that it seems as if the slightest breeze would strew 

 the lovely petals on the ground, as indeed it would; but 

 there is no fear of that this morning, and we feel as we 

 gaze in rapt attention that 



" There was never yet so pretty a thing 

 By racing river or bubbling spring, 

 Nothing that ever so merrily grew 

 Up to the clouds when the skies were blue, 

 Nothing so brave, nothing so free, 

 As thou, my wild, wild Cherry tree." 



Its long pointed leaves, with a delicate crimson blush on 

 them, are also very pretty, and the sight of this wild plant 



