246 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



The azalea, because of its gay blossoms, is becoming very 

 popular as a cultivated shrub. 



"Some plants do not care to have their pollen distrib- 

 uted, but fertilize their own flowers by dropping the pol- 

 len grains upon their own pistils. But in all such cases 

 their children are degenerates, and only plants which are 

 very low and unsuccessful in life use this means of fer- 

 tilization. While in a very large percentage of flowering 

 plants the male and female elements both are present in 

 the same flower, if good healthy offspring are to be pro- 

 duced it is necessary for pollen to be brought from an- 

 other plant, or another flower of the same plant. 



"It was long ago proved that close interbreeding pro- 

 duces degenerates in the plant kingdom. There are very 

 few instances among high-class plants where perfect 

 seeds have been produced without the ovules having been 

 fertilized in the regular way ; that is, by a transference of 

 the pollen from the male to the female flower. 



"Among such plants as begonias, cucumbers, gourds, 

 squashes and the like there are many flowers that are dis- 

 tinctly male or female. If for any reason the proper in- 

 sects do not exist in the territory where such flowers are 

 to be raised, the flowers may be fertilized by carrying 

 pollen dust from the male to the female by means of a 

 feather or a dainty brush. 



"Plants have various devices for securing a cross-fer- 

 tilization of their flowers. Some use the wind as an agent, 

 others depend upon the bees, the butterflies, the moths, 

 the snails or even the birds. Bird pollenation is a com- 

 mon thing in Brazil, where the abuntilon is fertilized by 

 the humming bird. Flowers use their beauty, perfume 

 and conspicuousness to attract to themselves insects that 

 will distribute their pollen. 



"And in considering this plant courtship and marriage 



