44 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



En&lish Cowsu7? 



(Corolla, rimovelj 



VI 





Short- stykl 

 ■jor-m. 



seems to be the prevailing color, and it is the almost universal one that is 

 found in flowers that are fertilized by insects that fly at night. A second 

 means of attraction is found in the odors given off by many plants. As 

 some of these are attractive to some insects and repulsive to others, it 

 tends to induce the insects to only visit one species of flower, thus effect- 

 ing a saving of pollen and increasing the chances of cross-fertilization. 



A third means of attraction is afforded by the honey glands, or nectaries, 

 that are possessed particularly by plants that need insect aid to transfer 

 the pollen. As the bees flit from flower to flower, sipping the honey, they 

 carry with them, on their legs or bodies, hundreds of pollen grains to be 

 deposited on the stigmas of other flowers. In addition to the different forms 

 of flowers, we often find special contrivances to prevent self-pollination 

 and secure cross-fertilization. When the stigma is under the anthers, we 

 sometimes find the latter so situated that the insects can enter the flower 

 and pass by them, without receiving any pollen. They bring in pollen 

 from other flowers and deposit it on the stigma; and on leaving, the posi- 

 tion of the stamens is such that they are dusted with pollen which they 

 •carry to other flowers. 



Where the wind is depended upon for transferring the pollen, an 

 enormous quantity is necessary, in order to secure thorough fertilization; 

 and even then it may not be thoroughly performed, as it may be washed 

 away or carried off or consumed by insects. This often leads to partial 

 failure of our fruit crops. As a partial remedy for this, some flowers will 

 not open so long as the weather remains damp and cloudy. 



When the gardener grows crops under glass, during the winter months, 

 he often finds it necessary to artificially pollinate them. 



In case of the cucumber, the anther can be broken off from its 

 receptacle, and the pollen can easily be rubbed off on the stigma of the 

 pistillate flower. In pollinating the strawberry, a small brush is generally 

 used to transfer the pollen. 



It is by means of crossing plants of one variety with those of another 



