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INTRODUCTION 



FIRST SECTION 



HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF FLOWER POLLINATION ' 



Dr. Joseph Gottlieb Kolreuter ^ was the first to make observations on Flower 

 Pollination and to expressly point out that the visits of insects are necessary for the 

 pollination of flowers. In his work, ' Vorlaufige Nachricht von einigen das Ge- 

 schlecht der Pflanzen betreffenden Versuchen und Beobachtungen ' ' (Leipzig, 1761), 

 with continuation (1763), second continuation (1764), and third continuation (1766), 

 he communicates the results of numerous hybridization experiments, and in con- 

 nection with these, gives his observations on the pollination of flowers by the 

 agency of insects. The first sentences on this subject occur on page 21 and 

 subsequent pages of the ' Preliminary Notice.' As they will always be noteworthy 

 in the history of flower pollination, they may find place here. After mentioning the 

 fig-tree as the only example till then known of a plant requiring the help of insects 

 for pollination, Kolreuter continues : ' Experience has taught me that this, which 

 has long been asserted concerning the fig-tree, is true of many other plants, some 

 of them very common. In all cucumber plants (Cucurbitaceae), in all sword- 

 lilies (Iridaceae), and in not a few plants of the mallow order (Malvaceae), pollination 

 of the female flowers and stigmas is effected only by insects. I was amazed when 

 I made this discovery in one of those plants for the first time, and saw that Nature 

 had left so important a matter as reproduction to a mere chance, to a fortunate 

 accident. My amazement was gradually converted, however, after prolonged observa- 

 tion, to admiration of the means, at first sight casual, but in fact most sure, which 

 the wise Creator employs to secure reproduction. It is true that every movement 

 of these small insect servants of Nature makes it quite evident that when they visit 

 flowers, they have no intention of discharging an office so important. But what 

 does that matter ? It is enough that they, without themselves knowing it, undertake 



* A full account of the historical development of flower pollination is given by E. Loew in his 

 excellent work, ' Einfiihrung in die Bliitenbiologie auf historischer Grundlage' (Berlin, 1895, 8, 

 432 and xii pp.). 



^ According to Sachs (' History of Botany,' Eng. Ed., p. 406, note), Kolreuter was born at Sulz 

 on the Neckar, and died in 1806 as Professor of Natural History in Karlsruhe, where he was also 

 superintendent of the Botanic and Royal Gardens from 1768 to 1786. There he began bis investiga- 

 tions, which were subsequently continued in his own small garden, after he had given up his post, 

 on account of the opposition of the gardeners. 



' This work has been republished by W. Pfeffer. It appeared in Ostwald's ' Klassiker der 

 exakten Naturwissenschaften,' XLI (Leipzig, 1893). 



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