I have done so, and I remarked that the same sort of plant always produced the same kind of blossom, year after year, just as birds lay certain eggs of their own sort only. How is this?
No one can answer that question, except by saying that God has established fixed laws, according to which everything acts in order. The planets turn round the sun, the sun appears every morning; plants and animals produce their like, and everything that God has made moves in its proper path.
Except men and women, father. And yet I think if stars and flowers know and do their duty, we should be at least as good as they.
Now for the flowers, Willie. What do you see in them?
There are the pretty leaves, the common-looking green leaves outside of them, and a lot of things standing upright in the middle of the flower.
Your pretty leaves are the Corolla of the flower; the green ones form the Calyx; and the standards inside are Stamens and Pistils. We will take one at a time, and begin with the Calyx, although that, and the Corolla too, may be wanting in a plant, as they are not really necessary.
It seems as though the Corolla took care of the Stamens, and the Calyx protected the Corolla.
You are not far from the mark, my boy. But can you tell me whether the Corolla of a flower is always in one piece or not?
I should think not. I recollect some flowers with one pretty cup all round, while others are made up of a great many coloured leaves.
You must call those leaves Petals. Some plants have four petals in the form of a cross. Did you ever notice a pea blossom?