14 SUGAR BKEX SEED. 



botanist other than such an eminent authority would 

 be refuted, for the anatom}' of the beet's flower appears 

 to be particularly favorable for its own fertilization, 

 the abundance of the pollen on the one hand and a 

 single ovary on the other. When the proper condi- 

 tions are reached, the stigmas become moist and sticky, 

 so as to hold the pollen granules that may fall upon 

 them either from the same flower or another close 

 at hand, or, in many cases, very far ofif. Unlike many 

 other plants, the anther of the beet flower opens freely. 

 The phenomenon of projection of this pollen is of more 

 than usual interest, as mentioned in the foregoing; the 

 period the plant is most active in its fertilization is 

 when the perfume is the most characteristic; the mois- 



FiG. 14. Section of pericaro Fig. 15. Seed taken Iroiii hard 



of seed. out«r covering. 



ture then to a large extent leaves the anthers, a con- 

 traction of the cells holding the pollen follows, the 

 cavity of anthers becoming smaller, and the granules 

 are forced out and thrown a considerable distance. 

 The stigmas retain on their surface a large number of 

 the pollen granules; these, being on a thin absorbing 

 surface, soon swell and are absorbed by osmosis; the 

 pollen then extends itself and the style (Fig. lo, ;'), 

 allows its passage into the ovary through the micropyle. 

 A section of the flower through the pistil and 

 ovary shows just how the communication is made; the 

 petals are visible. The ovum (Fig. lo, s) has a 

 certain slant on its plane which is the same as 

 that of the carpels. The various stages (Fig. t2, i, 2, 



