HYBRIDISATION, SEEDS, & SEEDLINGS ii 



are connected, and may be in groups of two, four, six, or eight, 

 their number being the chief means by which the different genera 

 are distinguished, apart from outer and more readily visible 

 evidences. The stigmatic surface usually lies a little below the 

 pollen masses and on the under side of the column. 



Nature has so arranged matters that an insect is attracted to 

 the flower by the nectar and the colouring of the lip, and when 

 the insect emerges from the flower it pays for the feast by carrying 

 away the pollen masses on its head or back. These adhere tightly 

 by means of their sticky bases, and so are not easily detached, but 

 when the insect reaches the next Orchid flower the pollen masses 

 are brought into contact with the sticky stigmatic surface, to which 

 they adhere, and the insect is relieved of its burden and the flower 

 is pollinated. Presently the pollen masses send down minute tubes 

 into the ovary that lies at the base of the flower and forms a sort 

 of foot stalk for it. Through these tubes the contents of the pollen 

 masses are discharged into the ovary, and there fertilise the ovules, 

 which in turn become seeds. At least that is the general course of 

 things ; but, alas, when man takes the place of the insect and 

 transfers the pollen of one species or variety to the stigmatic surface 

 of another the various processes do not always follow. Moreover, 

 there is not seldom a development of the ovary that suggests 

 fertilisation has taken place, but when the seed pod ripens it is 

 found to contain nothing but chafi^. If all has gone on satis- 

 factorily the pod develops and the seeds ripen, but the seeds are so 

 minute that very great care has to be taken of them or they will 

 be lost. 



Hybrid animals are usually infertile, and so cannot perpetuate 

 their kind, and a few hybrid plants are infertile in some degree. 

 In the case of Orchids it has been found, however, that even where 

 the pollen is not capable of fertilising its own or another flower. 



