APICULTURE. 349 



Bees ix Relation to Fertilization. During- the process of fer- 

 tilization the contents of the pollen grains become mingled with 

 those of the ovules, after which the latter develop into seeds. This 

 takes place soinewhat as follows: The dust-like substance (pollen) 

 on the ends of the stamens falls upon the top of the pistil. The 

 outer coat of the polle.n grain bursts and the inner pushes out in 

 the form of a tube, v/hich forces its way from the top of the pistil 

 down through it until it reaches the ovary (the lower and enlarged 

 part of the pistil) where the ovules are located. In the meantime a 

 minute structure (germinal vesicle) has formed in the ovule. This 

 point is reached by the pollen tube, an interchange of elements takes 

 place, the ovule is fertilized and at once chang-es begin which end 

 in the complete development of a seed. 



The question naturally arises. How do the pollen grains get to 

 the pistil? This effected, fertilization will in all likelihood take 

 place. 



Observation shows that this maj^ be done in several ways. 



1. By the wind. Where this is the usual way we find the plants 

 are rich in pollen, have no nectar, grow crowded together, in some 

 cases bloom before the leaves appear and are seldom attractive in 

 appearance. The grasses, willows and some maples afford examples 

 of plants largel3^ dependent upon the wind for the transport of the 

 pollen to the pistil. 



2. By artificial means. Man can effect the same result by simpl}^ 

 taking the pollen and placing it upon the pistil. This has enabled 

 hiin to cross-breed and hybridize to such an extent that he has de- 

 veloped innumerable varieties of plants of great economic value, as 

 is exeinplified in our beautiful flowers and luscious fruits. 



3. By birds, which to some extent aid in carrying pollen from 

 plant to plant, especially such as the humming birds. 



4. By insects. This, probably, is b}'' far the most common method 

 in nature, and ma}^ be viewed as the chief use of insects. 



Plants fertilized by insects present an attractive appearance, are 

 rich in perfume and, above all, supplj- nectar to the insects which 

 frequent them. It can be readil}^ seen how insects moving about in 

 a flower will become loaded with the dust-like pollen, and in passing 

 to other flowers aid much in transferring the poJlen from one plant 

 to another, and thus bring about a cross-fertilization, or, in other 

 words, cross-breeding, which seems as essential to the production 

 of vigorous and fertile plants as it does in aniinal life. 



Among insects which aid largely in this interestingprocess no class 

 is more useful than bees. Where imperfect fertilization has taken 

 place fruit is incompletely developed in size and form, so that the 

 quantity and quality are affected. Careful investigation has shown 

 that the fruitfulness of many plants is largely influenced by bees 

 and such insects as search for the nectar and pollen of flowers. 



Although inan}'^ flowers have both stamens and pistils in the same 

 flower, still scientific observation has shown that even in these cross- 

 fertilization is favored by the structure of the flower. From obser- 

 vations made it is claimed that orchards with beehives in them have 

 been more fruitful than those without hives. In some cases bees 



