14 



THE POLLINATION OF TEAli FLOWERS. 



Tbe pear Ilowers are borne in corymbose chisters, wliicli generally 

 consist of seven or eight flowers^ altbongli the number may vary. 

 During winter this cluster is contained in one small, scaly bud, which 

 may be called the cluster bud, but is commonly spoken of by orchard- 

 ists as the fruit bud. When spring arrives the cluster begins to 



Yic. ] .— Eiuaiiit'd section of a Bai'tk'tt poar flower. style, .">!> sepal, /'lilanieiit, a anther, *• stijiuia, 



p ]>etal, d disk, ov ovule. 



develop and expand. The bud scales are separated and fall away, and 

 the seven or eight individual liower buds appear. These rapidly 

 enlarge until all the floi al parts, except the petals, are full size. The 

 stamens are all curved inward and the white or pink color of the 

 petals is barely visible between the sepals. When the flowers arrive 

 at this stage the weather conditions determine two more or less 

 distinct courses of development. If dry and sunny weather prevail 

 the buds will open and expose the stigmas before the petals are full 

 grown. By this means the pistils are often exposed a full day 

 before the stamens on the sanu^ flower shed their pollen. So far as 

 the stamens are concerned this is a prematui'e oi)ening of the flower, 

 but no matter how early the petals open the stigma is always expanded 

 and ready to receive pollen. 



