Cultivated-Plant Study 647 



ones project in front of the others ? Do these have guide-lines upon them ? 

 Where do these Hnes point? Find the nectar- well, how deep is it? Does 

 it extend almost the entire length of the flower stem? For what insects 

 must it have been developed? Are there nectar-tubes in the stems of 

 the geraniums with double flowers? Why? 



4. How many sepals are there ? Are they all the same size? Where' 

 is the largest? 



5. How many stamens can you see? What is the color of the fila- 

 ments and of the anthers? How are the stamens joined at their bases? 

 Can you find any stamens without anthers ? 



6. Where is the pistil situated? Can you see the ovary, or seed-box? 

 How many stigmas? Describe their color and shape. 



7 . In what part of the flower will the seeds be developed ? How does 

 the geranium fruit look? Sketch the pod. Do the geraniums develop 

 many seeds? Why not? Do you know the seed-pod of the wild gera- 

 nium? If so, compare it with the pod of this plant. 



8. Take a flower cluster when the flowers are all in the bud, and note 

 the following: When the buds first appear, what protects them? What 

 becomes of these bracts later? How do the sepals protect the bud? Are 

 the bud stems upright and stiff or drooping? How many buds are there 

 in a cluster? 



9. Take notes on successive days as follows: What happens to the 

 stem as the bud gets ready to bloom ? Is it a central or an outside blossom 

 that opens first? How many new blossoms are there each day? How 

 long is it from the time that the first bud opens until the last bud of the 

 cluster blossoms? What has this to do with making the geranium a 

 valuable ornamental plant? 



10. Make some geranium cuttings, and note how they develop into 

 new plants. Place one of the cuttings in a bottle of water and describe 

 how its roots appear and grow. 



"God made the flowers to beautify 

 Ttie earth, and cheer man's careful mood; 

 And he is happiest who hath power 

 To gather wisdom from a flower, 

 And walie his heart in every hour 

 To pleasant gratitude." 



— Wordsworth. 



