MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 321 



do no good to plant Early Harvest next to Geniting, Ingram or North- 

 ern Spy, as there is a big difference in their blooming time, and, there- 

 fore, would be no benefit as to pollenization. There are some plum 

 trees that produce no fruit at all, unless other varieties are planted 

 near them, from the fact that the flowers are all staminates ; there are 

 other instances where there is no fruit produced ; in the wild grape I 

 noticed this condition frequently ; the bloom is unisexual, where only 

 one of the reproductive organs exists. Some years a tree may bloom 

 very abundantly and not produce fruit or seeds, as in the hard maple ; 

 I noticed one season all male bloom, and, therefore, no seed; the next 

 season both sexual organs were abundant, and perfect fertilization and 

 a large crop of seed resulted. The fertilization of the evergreens is 

 effected by the wind ; the pollen is very abundantly produced, and by 

 the slightest breeze, clouds of yellow dust fall, and are often carried 

 many miles. I notice in Norway spruce, the cones are only produced 

 on the topmost branches and the pollen on the lower ; in this instance 

 the pollen can not fall on the pistillate, and fertilization is effected by 

 the agency of insects. In the firs the conditions seem reversed. 



Nature is a wonderful study, and her ways for the perpetuation of 

 species are as varied as is the vegetable kingdom. Insects doubtless 

 perform an important part in the fertilization of flowers, for on exami- 

 nation a number of plants will be found to bear flowers manifestly 

 adapted for insect visitation, not to mention the Orchid family, which 

 Darwin observed so closely and has described so minutely. The curi- 

 ous genus of plants, Stapelia, is fertilized solely by the larvae of a fly, 

 generally the common " blue-bottle." This fly, attracted by the offen- 

 sive odor of the flower, lays its eggs as far as it can in the tube of the 

 corolla. These eggs hatching, the larvae they produce come in con- 

 tact with the pollen granules, which adhere to them, and which they 

 carry to the pistil, and thus fertilize them. As a rule, flowers possess- 

 ing much fragrance and secreting nectar, and those of gay colors, are 

 more or less dependent on insect agency. The squash, pumpkin and 

 cucumber are fertilized by a small fly. One can see these little crea- 

 tures fairly roll in the pollen of the bloom, and thus become useful to 

 man. How many farmers have ever examined the silks on the young 

 ear of corn? Every thread is a hollow tube, and represents the em- 

 bryo grain of corn ; in other words, the silks are the reproductive 

 organs, or female. Now, unless the pollen from the male flower, or 

 tassel, comes in contact with the end of the thread-like tube, there is 

 no grain formed. Many more such instances could be mentioned, but 

 this article becomes too lengthy. Perfect fertilization is absolutely 



H— 21 



/ 



