Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-20

over, bloom chiefly in october. The
former are to be found on every hill
side. In every canyon. beside many OF
the city sidewalks, aud along all the
waysldes OF the country places. Even
the sunnower does not dispossess this
charming and dainty mass OF violet
purple bloom for upon venturing into
the midst OF the ocean of yellow color
I'm the sunflower field, IL was found that
the latter had not entirely usurped the
soil. but that In between the tall hell
anthus patches and covering the hills
and bare places were punches OF plant
from few inches TO O. foot or so hlgh.
that exhibited q beauty as lovely and
delicate as that OF the snnflower was
bold and commanding. This was the
aster. In three varieties. most usually
of a deep violet-purple color, but pass
ing through shades OF lilac and lavender
TO n pinkish white, and sparkling llke
colored stars at the top OF elegant
green foliage.
The aster Ia celebrated In song and
story. and Is certainly worthy OF the
: literary homage It has received. A little
close observation finds that this dell
cate specimen of wild weed improves
upon acquaintance. The method In the
natures study classes at the university
WIS W apRl o9Nl ~ ~ Nhf' w.
A GENERAL VIEW.
What is (to you) the most striking
feature OF the plant? What shades OF
color do you see in the flowers Of vari-
Gus specimens? How does II compare
with the sunfiower as 70 size, strength
texture. and duration of its stem? In
tho position, shape, size, ana number OF
it's leaves? In the presence Of smaller
leaves (bracts) on the upper STEMS IN
the nature OF Its surface, whether rough
or smooth. hairy or glabrousF CONSIDER
The iowers--the number, shape and size
OF its heads; the number, color, size and
shape Of the ray flowers. Of the disc
flowers, the flower cup, or inyolucre
that contains the head of the flowers,
as 10 it's cylender-bell shapes, ana the
number of rows of small leaves thar
form IL. As to the worth of this weed
--is il ornamental? should u be exter-
minated? Stripped Of its blossoms? or
let grow and hourlshf Have you seen
others like Il, but with more numerous
ray 1owers2 These are the erigerons,
the heaoane OF the eastern states. they
bloom In great profusion earlier IN sum-
ner and in spring.
A CLOSE STUDY.
Coming TO finer distinctions. observe
the stem more closely--almost woody
(suffruilcose) at the base, and therefore
q perennial: the leaves-long and slen-
der Qlnear) the nower-stalks that arise
from the axis, or inner angles OF the
leaves: the peduncles. or fowerstems
into which the howerstalks divide; the
inyolucre with It's small scales closely
oppressed forming the cyllnurcal bell;
the oblong linear ray flowers without
stamens, but with bristly pappus, or
calyx down; the disc flowers (use
leDs) with yellow style projecting Ike
tw0-tined fork and the seed, or
aksne. resembling a small peg, three
times as long as wide Now comes some-
thing Of more Interest.
WHAT POLLEN GRAINS DO.
Fertilization is the process by means
OF which the seed Is made fertile or
ready 10 grow, through the operation
OF the pollen grains In penetrating the
plstil and entering the ovule, or young
seed
The familiar yellow dust Of the aster.
OF sunnowers and bitterweeds Is borne
by the stamens, and Is the special slim
ulant which Is necessary 10 cause the
seeds to grow. and without which the
ovules or young seeds, simply shrlvel
and die. Little sacs (anthers) contain
the pollen dust. which is most COM
monty yellow or brown In color, but
may be red, green, blue, whtish, or
even black and the grains are of va
iious shapes with unique markings.
when seen under the microscope. Each
pollen grain. delicately coated with oil,
10 filled with liquid OF most nutrl-
tious kind, and Is the acsh-forming
food OF the honey-bee, the bee-bread
also Of the young grubs in the hive.
When pollen grain falls upon plstll.
the grain sends forth n minute tube
that penetrates the pistil and carries
this fluid down TO one of the ovules
below. which IL finds with unerring aim
and enters at an opening which every
young seed nrovidas for this nnrncsn