56 
SECOND BOOK. 
another purpose, as we shall soon learn. They 
wither and drop as soon as the anthers have cast 
out the pollen; for then their work is done. 
In many flowers the sepals drop off, too; but on 
the oraDge they remain, and you may see them at 
the bottom of the ripe fruit. 
FLOWERS AND SEEDS (FERTILIZATION).— I. 
1. As the anthers are so close to the stigma in 
most flowers, I dare say you think that it is an easy 
matter for their pollen to fall upon it, and thus 
cause the little seed -buds to start their growth 
into perfect seeds. 
2 . But this does not happen in some flowers. On 
the contrary, there are often contrivances to prevent 
the stigma receiving pollen from its own flower, for 
where that takes place the seeds are not likely to 
produce strong plants. In such cases it is better 
that the stigma of a flower should be dusted with 
pollen from another flower of the same kind. 
3. In many cases, stamens and pistils do not grow 
in the same flower, or even on the same plant or 
tree. In the gourd, or melon, for instance, you 
may find both male flowers (having stamens) and 
female flowers (having a pistil) on the same plant. 
In a corn-plant the tassel-shaped male flower, with 
its load of golden dust, is very different in appear- 
