FUNCTIONS OP STAMENS AND PISTILS. 313 



cxperimenis upon wliicli Liimirus Ibundud 

 his opinion, as well as the objections it has 

 had to encounter. It would be endless, and 

 altogether superfluous, to bring forward new 

 facts in its support, nor shall I do so, except 

 where new ar^iuments may render such a 

 measure necessary. 



The Stamens and Pistils of flowers have, 

 from the most remote antiquity, been con- 

 sidered as of great importance in perfecting 

 the fruit. The Date Palm, from time imme- 

 morial a primary object of cultivation in tlie 

 more temperate climates of the globe, bears 

 barren and fertile flowers on separate trees. 

 The ancient Greeks soon discovered that in 

 order to have abundant and well-flavoured 

 fruit, it was expedient to plant both trees 

 near together, or to brinir the barren bios- 

 soms to those which were to bear fruit ; and 

 in this chiefly consisted the culture of that 

 valuable plant. Tournefort tells us that 

 without such assistan^-e dates have no kernel, 

 and are not good food. The same has long 

 been practised, and is continued to this very 

 day in the Levant, upon the Pistac'ia, and 

 the Fig. 



