20 



THE APPLE-TREE 



comely blossom, fragrant and pinky white, flatly spread 

 to the sky, carrying the spirit of the cool of the spring. 

 What concerns us now, however, is the cluster of stamens 

 and pistils in the center, for these organs are directly 

 concerned in the production of the fruit. The petals soon 

 fall, but the remains of these interior organs persist, 

 even unto the ripening of the fruit. 



The anther is attached at the back of its base or 

 middle to the top of the filament in the suture separating 

 the two large cells. These anther-cells split along the 

 outer margins, releasing the pollen-grains. 



In the center of the ring of stamens are the five style- 

 branches, which are united at the base into a short hairy 

 column; the column is borne on the ovary, which is 

 sunken deep into the receptacle or 

 stem (Fig. 4). It is down these 

 style-branches that the pollen-tube 

 passes on its way to the ovules or 

 embryo seeds. The top of the style 

 is expanded into a cupped stigma 

 on which are many glutinous points. 

 One can observe the browning and 

 ripening of the stigma after pollen 

 has been deposited by wind, bees 

 or other agencies. When the ovules 

 are fertilized, the forming fruit en- 

 larges regularly unless it meets with misfortune or is 

 crowded out for lack of room and nourishment. 



If one cuts across the ovary or embryo fruit below 

 the recurving sepals, one will see under a lens that it is 



4. Longitudinal 

 section of the flower. 



