“Only steal honey!” exclaimed Billy. “But then, I used to think so myself, Mary Frances, until about a year ago, when I learned better. You see, the bees do every bit as much for the flowers as the flowers do for the bees.” “Oh, do they? That’s wonderful, Billy. Please tell me about it?” “If you’ll move over far enough on this bench to let me be comfortable,” growled Billy. “Oh, certainly, certainly; excuse me.” Mary Frances almost fell off the end. “Oh, say, Billy, let’s go over under the trees and I’ll swing in the hammock, and you can take the bench.” “All right,” said Billy, following Mary Frances. “Now,” suggested Mary Frances, settling herself in the hammock, “I know you feel just like telling me the whole story.” “All right,” agreed Billy, “and I have a surprise for you—I just caught that honey bee you saw. Here, in my cap.” “Oh, let’s see it, Billy,” Mary Frances put out her hand. “Take care!” warned Billy. “I guess you forget how a bee stings. Go get a large-mouth bottle and I’ll slip it in.” Billy gently slipped the bee into the large bottle Mary Frances brought. “Notice, Mary Frances, how furry its little body is.” “Why, it’s covered with yellow!” exclaimed Mary Frances. “I thought bees were rather dark in color.” “Yes,” said Billy, “yes, this bee is quite dark in color; the yellow you see is pollen powder.” “Oh, off the anther bead!” exclaimed Mary Frances. “It’s off the anther bead of some flower!” “Guessed right that time,” said Billy. “That’s what it is, all right. I wish I could tell you the whole story of the bee and of fertilization the way Miss Gardener told us in class.” “Won’t you try to remember, Billy; won’t you try?” begged Mary Frances. CHAPTER XIX THE STORY OF FERTILIZATION “WELL, as nearly as I can remember,” began Billy, “Miss Gardener said she had been studying very hard on the formation of parts of flowers, and the story of fertilization. It was pretty dry stuff, too, as it was taught when she was young; but the way she told it was so interesting that I took notes which will help me in telling you about THE BIRTH OF SEED BABIES. FORMATION OF THE PISTIL The pistil is the tall green center stalk generally found in the midst of the stamens. The pistil is very interesting, for it has to do with the way in which the seed baby is born. [Illustration] {the stigma (the top), The pistil has three parts {the style (the stem), {the ovary (seed holder). “The pistil is the real mother of the seed babies.” “Here, Mary Frances, I am going to cut a flower off that geranium in the window, down the center to show you. Mother will not object.” When Billy had cut the flower down lengthwise he explained further THE NEED OF POLLEN