82 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



Flowers pollinated by insects have one or more of these 

 features: (1) The flowers are showy in color. (8) Some nec- 

 tar is found in them. (3) They may have an attractive odor. 

 (4) The pollen is heavy and sticky until very old. 



22. Pollination of Corn. — Study the tassels and young ears, 

 including the silks of corn. For this purpose some early sweet 

 corn, such as Golden Bantam, may be grown in the window box during 

 the winter, in time for study while school is in session. Large pic- 



FiQ. 54, — Strawberry blossoms. Those on the left are of two varieties, each 

 having both stamens and pistils. Those on the right have only pistils. Varieties 

 which have no stamens must be grown near perfect varieties so the pollen may be 

 carried to them at blossoming time. 



tures may be used if necessary. Shake the tassel on dark cloth or 

 paper to find the grains of pollen. Trace the silks from tip to base 

 and find their attachment. Each runs to its own kernel. 



Many plants have the same plan for pollinating as- found 

 in the corn. Their pollen is iu one part of the plant and the 

 pistil in another. This requires the transfer of pollen by wind 

 or insects. The corn plant is chiefly pollinated by wind. 

 When the corn is in tassel, wind carries the pollen to the silks 

 or pistils. A grain falls upon the sticky portion of a silk 



