If all goes well, the tiny, soft ovule becomes a large, hard seed. But it cannot do this alone; it needs help. Probably you never could guess what helps it, so I will tell you at once: it is the pollen. If a pollen grain can unite with an ovule, the two thus joined together can grow into a seed. So you see the flower does not provide pollen for the use of the bee alone. It makes it for its own seed-children. But the bee is the messenger that carries the pollen to the ovule. You see the pollen grain of our morning-glory lies in the anther below the stigma, and it must reach the stigma so as to find its way down to the ovary. Just how all this comes about you will know later; only now remember that the pollen must get to the stigma, and that the bee puts it there. Not on purpose, though. The bee collects pollen for her own use, but in doing so touches the stigma with her pollen-covered body, and some of the pollen grains stick to the stigma instead of remaining on the bee. When the pistil is ripe, the stigma is sticky and holds fast the pollen grains that touch it. The union of ovule and pollen is called _fertilization_, and by flying about from flower to flower the insects carry pollen from one flower to another, and thus fertilize the plants. You will know a great deal more about this later. So we see the pollen is made for the sake of the seeds. The honey is also made for the sake of the seeds, for it attracts the insects that are necessary to fertilize the flower. Even the flower cup has its bright and beautiful coloring to attract the attention of the insects and call them to it. The name of the flower cup is the “corolla,” and means “a little crown” or “garland.” The corolla is not the only covering the inner parts have. Look at the end of the flower next the stem and you will see the green calyx. When the corolla falls off, the calyx stays and protects the tender ovary. The calyx has five parts, or sepals, and these fold about the ovary like a green cup and keep it safe. [Illustration: Calyx.] When the ovules are ready for the pollen, the flower puts on its beautiful garland as a sign that the life of the plant is to be renewed. When we look at the flowers in the fields and gardens we may know that their loveliness is also a promise for the future. THIS IS THE FLOWER SO BRIGHT AND GAY. Most flowers have, like the morning-glory, corolla, stamens, and nectar to assist the pistil in developing the seeds. The sweet pea has, and somebody once told a story about it that I am going to tell you, because I think it will help you to remember the parts of the flower and their uses. [Illustration: [Flower]] This is the flower so bright and gay. This is the stamen that lives in the flower so bright and gay. [Illustration: [Stamen]] [Illustration: [Anther]] This is the anther that grows on the stamen that lives in the flower so bright and gay.