FERTILISATION AND POLLINATION 61 
centre of the flower correspond to the pistils of the other 
forms. An examination of a number of other flowers will 
make this similarity of structure still more clear. 
Norer.—A study of the flower in detail might with advantage 
be left until pupils reach St. III. For a lower standard the 
detailed observation demanded would prove extremely tedious, 
and the terminology, which must be learnt, in .all probability 
would either be imperfectly known or cause a dislike for the 
whole subject; besides there is plenty of other material for the 
lower classes to work on. . 
Pupils should examine a nuinber of flowers of the same type 
and gradually become familiar with the terminology employed. | 
If, for instance, the Buttercup be first dealt with, flowers of 
several species of this genus should be examined (there are quite 
a large number of these available) as well as those of other related 
plants, eg., any common variety of Single Anemone, the- 
Columbine, Larkspur, etc. An investigation of the flower of the 
garden Pea could be followed by an examination of those of the, 
Bean, Furze, Wistaria, Dolicus, Yellow Kowhai Clianthus, and 
other allied forms. Here again we must be-careful not to allow 
the instruction to merge into a tr aining in botany. : 
A good plan, where it is possible, 7.¢., where the structure is 
simple, is to require pupils to remove the various parts from the 
flower, to place them carefully on their slates, and to draw and 
name them. When the classes are not too large, the pupils might 
be required to mount dried specimens on paper. These mounts 
should show (a) the entire flower ; (6) the parts of the flower in 
detail. ‘ 
XV.—FERTILISATION AND POLLINATION. 
Fertilisation. In order that an ovule may become a. 
seed, its contents must come into contact with the pollen from 
the anther lobes. The fusion of the contents of a pollen grain 
with the ovule is called fertilisation. When the pollen 
grains fall on the stigma ‘of a flower, the sticky fluid with 
which the stigma is coated serves not only to secure the 
pollen, but stimulates the grains to growth. Hach grain 
