II.] THE PURPOSE OF HONEY. 33 



than any of the stamens, and in the third it is inter- 

 mediate in length, so that the stigma lies between the 

 two sets of anthers. 



The real use of honey now seems so obvious that it 

 is curious to see the various theories which were once 

 entertained on the subject. Patrick Blair thought that 

 the honey absorbed the pollen, and then fertilised the 

 ovary. Pontedera thought it kept the ovary in a 

 moist condition. Linnaeus confessed his inability to 

 solve the question. Other botanists considered that 

 it was useless material thrown off in the process of 

 growth. Krianitz thought he observed that in meadows 



o *-> 



much visited by bees the plants were more healthy, 

 but the inference he drew was, that the honey, unless 

 removed, was very injurious, and that the bees were of 

 use in carrying it off. 



Kurr observed that the formation of honey in 

 flowers is intimately associated with the maturity of 

 the stamens and pistil. He lays it down, as a general 

 rule, that it very seldom commences before the open- 

 ing of the anthers, is generally most copious during 

 their maturity, and ceases so soon as the stamens 

 begin to wither and the development of the fruit com- 

 mences. Rothe's observations also led him to a 

 similar conclusion, and yet neither of these botanists 

 perceived the intimate association which exists 

 between the presence of honey and the period at; 

 which the visits of insects are of importance to the 

 plant. Sprengel was the first to point out the real 

 office of honey, but his views were far from meeting 

 with general assent, and, even as lately as 1833, 

 were altogether rejected by Kurr, who came to the 



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