178 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



attract their lovers ; in the cunning which they show 

 in imprisoning a bee if he should arrive before the 

 pollen grains are ready to be sifted on his back, 

 and of holding him, sometimes for days at a time, 

 until he can go forth laden with the pollen that is 

 to adhere to a pistil and so find its way to the ovary 

 and perform the great miracle that results in seeds ; 

 in the many similar tricks which they use to entice 

 and to hold ; all working together towards that one 

 great aim of plant life reproduction. 



