POLLEN. 107 



iized by certain little flies, fluttering from one fig to the other, 

 and thus carrying the pollen from the staminate to the pistil- 

 late flowers. 



Although the fertilization of plants where the stamens and 

 pistils are on separate flowers, depends a little upon chance, 

 the favourable chances are so numerous that it is hardly pos- 

 sible, in the order of nature, that a pistillate plant should re- 

 main unfertilized. The particles of the pollen are light and 

 abundant, and the butterflies, the honey bees, and other in- 

 sects, transport them from flower to flower. 



The winds also assist in executing the designs of nature. 



The pollen of the Pines and Firs, moved by winds, may 

 be seen rising like a cloud above the forests ; the particles be- 

 ing disseminated, fall upon the pistillate flowers, and rolling 

 within their scaly envelopes fertilize the germs. 



A curious fact is stated by an Italian writer, viz. that in 

 places about forty miles distant, grew two palm trees, the one 

 without stamens, the other without pistils ; neither of them 

 bore seed for many years ; but in process of time they grew 

 so tall as to tower above all the objects near them. The wind 

 thus meeting with no obstruction, wafted the pollen to the pis- 

 tillate flowers, which, to the astonishment of all, began to pro- 

 duce fruit. 



The number of plants in which the pistils and stamens are 

 on different flowers, is few compared to those which have these 

 important organs enclosed within the same corolla ; this is the 

 case with most of our plants and shrubs, and even with the trees 

 of hot countries ; whose leaves being always present, might 

 impede the passage of the pollen. On the contrary the treed 

 of cold climates have generally the stamens and pistils on sepa- 

 rate flowers, blossoming before the leaves come forth, and in a 

 windy season of the year. Those which blossom later, as the 

 oak, are either peculiarly frequented by insects, or like the 

 numerous kinds of firs, have leaves so little in the way, and 

 pollen so excessively abundant, that it can scarcely fail of gain- 

 ing access to the pistillate flower. 



In all cases the pollen and stigma are in perfection at the 

 same time, and the stamens are generally shortest in drooping 

 flowers, and longest in erect ones ; thus in both cases hanging 

 over the stigma. " Gardeners formerly attempted to assist na- 

 ture, by stripping off the infertile flowers of melons and cucum- 

 bers, considering them as unnecessary incumbrances, since 



Various methods by which nature conveys pollen to the pistillate plants 

 Facts stated by an Italian writer Trees of hot countries have mostly stamens 

 and pistils on the same corolla Trees of cold countries have the stamens and 

 pistils on separate flowers Pollen and stigma in perfection at the same time. 



