180 Our Field and Forest Trees 



Inside the ovule there is a similar speck of jelly. 

 These two jelly specks meet, join, and melt 

 together, and from the union of the two, the baby 



plant, which sleeps in 

 every perfect seed, is 

 formed. 



If the speck of jelly in 



the forming cherry stone 



can become a baby plant 



by aid of pollen brought 



from another blossom, 



the young tree which will 



sprout from that cherry stone is more 



likely to be strong and hardy. But if the 



pistil receives pollen from the ring of 



stamens standing around it, the seedling 



which will grow from this cherry stone 



stands less chance of beginning life with 



a good constitution. 



The flowers seem 



Fig. 45. Pollen grain emitting the anxioUS tO do their 

 pollen tube. , , 



best for their children, 

 the seeds, for each tries in its own way to get 

 pollen from another flower, and to send its own 

 pollen away. The messengers which fetch and 

 carry are breezes and flying insects. 



Many flowers can form no seed at all without 

 the help of their messengers. Some of the chest- 

 nut blossoms, and some of the maple blossoms, 

 have stamens and pollen, but no pistils. Some 



