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to his wants and needs. Than in point of fact, all the other evidences of crea- 

 tive ability are only meant to subserve his ends, and are of value only as 

 they are of use to him. If the thought is rather gratifying to his pride it is 

 also calculated to be slightly humiliating to his self esteem to think that he 

 could not construct a single meal to sustain his vita] existence from the raw 

 materials of nature's workshop. All the substances which go to build up 

 his wonderful framework and mechanism must first have passed through the 

 manufactory of the vegetable, before it can be utilised in the animal economy. 

 Even in the carnivora or purely flesh-eating animals, who devour their food 

 as it may be said second-hand, it is carrying the initial stage only a remove 

 farther back till we come to the literal fulfilment of the adage that " all flesh 

 is grass." Imbued with this utilitarian idea that all plants were made for the 

 use of man, he is prone to overlook the fact that the primary aim of a plant's 

 existence is to live, grow, and re-produce the species. For this end certain 

 parts of the plant are endowed with peculiar powers, and set apart for the per- 

 formance of particular functions, the aim of which is to ensure the perpetuation 

 of the race. These organs are called the reproductive organs, and are popularly 

 known as the flowers. A typical flower is seen to be composed of four distinct 

 rows or whorls of parts, called the calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil. Of 

 these the first two are protective and non-essential, and may be absent 

 altogether, whereas the two others being absolutely necessary for the forma- 

 tion of seeds must always be present in some shape or other. Take for 

 illustration the blossoms of a common wallflower, at the top of the short 

 stalk which bears the solitary flower, will be seen four narrowish green little 

 scales, they are quite separate from each other, and very easily removed, 

 individually they are called sepals, and together they form the calyx. On 

 the unopened flower buds they enclose the more tender portions of the 

 plant, so their function is entirely protective. Within the calyx is found the 

 corolla, the single parts of which are called petals. This is the portion of 

 the reproduction organs, which is popularly known as the flower, because it 

 is the most conspicuous part of the blossom from the many brightly coloured 

 hues which it displays. Its function is partly protective, and more often 

 specially attractive, serving to allure and guide insects by its pleasing tints 

 and peculiar markings. In the wallflower there are four distinct petals with 

 a rather long narrow claw, and a flat spreading limb, arrayed in the 

 form of a cross X- They are very easily detached when there are 

 left exposed, six slender stalks with oblong knobs at the top ; these 

 are the stamens, the stalk being called the filament and the enlarged 

 portion at the top, the anther. Within the anther is contained a 

 highly specialised substance called the pollen ; it is usually found in the form 



