132 MY STUDIO NEIGHBORS 



one instance of thousands in which the anther 

 and stigma, though placed in the closest prox- 

 imity, and apparently even in contact — seem- 

 ingly with the design of self-fertilization — are 

 actually more perfectly separated functionally 

 than if in separate flowers, the insect alone con- 

 summating their affinity. 



In some flowers this sepa- 

 ration is effected, as I have 

 shown, by their maturing at 

 different periods ; in others, as 

 in the iris, by mere mechani- 

 cal means; while in a long list 

 4g of plants, as in the willow, pop- 



lar, hemp, oak, and nettle, the 

 cross-fertilization is 

 absolutely necessi- 

 tated by the fact of 

 the staminate and 

 stigmatic flowers be- 

 ing either separated 

 on the same stalk or 

 011 different plants, 

 the pollen being car- 

 ried by insects or the 

 wind. We may see 

 a pretty illustration 



