These are a few of the reasons why it is well to know something about flowers and their work.

[Illustration:  FIG. 76.—­FLOWER OF A LILY.  Notice how the stigma and the anthers are kept as far as possible from each other to guard against self-pollination and to insure cross-pollination.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 77.  Bud and flower of jewel-weed, or “touch-me-not.” A. Interior of bud.  Stamens are seen, but there appears to be no pistil. B. Section of bud showing the pistil concealed behind the stamens. C. Bee entering flower comes in contact with stamens and is loaded with pollen. D. Same bee entering older flower.  The stamens have ripened and been pushed off by the lengthened pistil, which is brushed by the back of the bee, and thus is pollinated.  This is a contrivance to insure cross-pollination.]

[Illustration:  FIG. 78. A. Pistillate flower of strawberry. B. Perfect flower of strawberry. (Drawing by M.E.  Feltham.)]

FRUIT

The pistil develops and forms the fruit of the plant.  This fruit bears seed for the production of new plants.  This fruit may be a dry pod like the bean or pea, or it may be a fleshy fruit like the apple or plum.  Now the developing pistil or fruit may be checked in its work of seed production by insects and diseases, and to secure good fruit it is in many cases necessary to spray the fruits just as the leaves are sprayed, to keep these insects and diseases in check.

The fruits of most plants, like the leaves, need light and air for their best development, and it sometimes happens that the branches of the fruit trees grow so thick that the fruits do not get sufficient light and air.  This makes it necessary to thin the branches or in other words to prune the tree.  Some trees also start more fruit than they can properly feed and as a result the ripened fruits are small and the tree is weakened.  This makes it necessary to thin the fruits while they are young and undeveloped.

PART II

Soil Fertility as Affected by Farm Operations and Farm Practices

THE FIRST BOOK OF FARMING

PART II

Soil Fertility as Affected by Farm Operations and Farm Practices

CHAPTER XVI

A FERTILE SOIL

What is a fertile soil?

The expression a fertile soil is often used as meaning a soil that is rich in plant food.  In its broader and truer meaning a fertile soil is one in which are found all the conditions necessary to the growth and development of plant roots.

These conditions, as learned in Chapter II, are as follows: 

The root must have a firm yet mellow soil.