On the Fructification of Seeds. 87 
gated? Why is the syngenesian flower capable of receiving the 
juice of the pistil, which runs up and often even covers the seeds 
below, without any effect >but when it descends with the fiower 
of the stamen, and runs into the seeds with the joint juices, 
why are the seeds directly impregnated? If the pollen had no 
effect, how could all this happen > But of all the seeds, none 
will perhaps show the whole process more completely than the 
Fragaria (fig. 10), especially at the seed ig. 11 X: aa is the 
stigma and style; J 0 the heart of the secd, which rises from the 
root of the plant; c¢ the ascent and descent of the juices from 
the corculum; ddd is the juice first ascending to the stigma; 
and ee is the liquid running from the style to the heart of the 
seed, and carrying the mixed juice: therefore in this seed there 
is a separate vessel; and one peculiarly adapted to convey the 
powder and juice through the heart, showing that the pistil juices 
could not do it. Fig. 10 is the seed-vessel, and ddd the part 
which conveys the corculums up to each seed. I have drawn it 
completely as it appears, and as a half-guinea glass ean show it. 
As to the idea that the embryo is formed in the male or sta- 
mina, it is most ridiculous; for it is far smaller than the embryo 
of the seed. Besides, 1 have shown by a progressive picture, that 
the beginning of the seed proceeds directly from the root, aud 
that it must be the right part—the real embryo—since it is 
never lost sight of till, fructified ; this part may therefore be as 
well called an egg till it has joined its seed. 
When I said that I] knew but of one flower that appeared 
really to want the assistance of insects, I only meant that na- 
ture had made them perfect, but the change of climate had al- 
tered them :—many exotics that would go on increasing their fi- 
jaments, are stopped by the alteration. of climate, and the 
weakness of the muscle. It is sometimes the case with our own 
flowers in bad seasons ; and in watching, how continually have f 
seen innumerable flowers bend down their pistils with a jerk to 
procure the powder of the stamen! In many of the Lily tribe, 
} have caught them when bending with a sudden jerk, which had 
much the appearance of an electrical effect or shock,—such as 
the pistil of the Orange Lily, or the Hemerocallis fulva, the 
large white Lily. I have seen the single Cumilla Japonica (the 
pistil of which is sometimes prolonged much beyond the stamen) 
bend down and sweep the pollen of each stigma in its turn, till it 
loaded itself with powder. I have also seen in like manner the 
AmaryllisJacobea bend down and make eachstigma take its share 
of the powder: but this moves gently along after the reception of 
the powder, and not with a jerk. How curiously in the Winter 
Rose will the stamens (though they all lie around) raise them- 
selves, and turn so many at a time in a contrary direction, 
while 
