PART IX 



THE WORK OF WINDS AND INSECTS 



I — Pollen to the Pistil 



Since anthers really are transformed leaves, and 

 since pollen is manufactured in the anthers, these 

 again may perhaps be called small workshops ; different 

 in kind from the green-leaf ones, yet not less important. 



At one time pollen was often spoken of as " Flower- 

 dust " ; a pretty name ! But with many plants, in 

 place of being a fine powder, it was found to be sticky 

 and in lumps, far too tiny lumps to be seen as such 

 without a microscope. 



When ripe and ready for use, the pollen has to make 

 its escape; and this comes about in many ways. 

 Frequently a tiny slit or hole appears first in each small 

 sac; and the pollen-grains are no longer imprisoned. 

 Yet even then, though the prison-door is actually open, 

 they have no power to walk out ; so they must wait for 

 something else to happen, completing their release. 



And here we touch on a very interesting matter ; that 

 of Cross-Fertilisation. 



In an earlier chapter something was said about the 

 difficulties put in the way of a plant supplying its own 

 pistils with pollen " made on the premises," — pollen 

 from its own stamens ; and about the need that it should 



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