248 THE HONEY-BEE. 



of the willow are abundantly visited, and the diffu- 

 sion of their fertilising powder is thus greatly pro- 

 moted. The same may be said about the poplar, 

 and, in all probability, the gathering of propolis from 

 trees of the fir-tribe makes the bee the unconscious, 

 but useful, instrument of carrying pollen from the 

 catkins to the cones, though, from the abundance of 

 the powder, and the openness of the scales of the 

 cones r the wind is a sufficiently effective agent for 

 its conveyance in this order of trees. 



FIG. 70. EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM. FIG. 71. EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM. 

 (Young bloom.) (Old bloom.) 



Passing next to cases in which the stamens and 

 pistils of the same flower come to maturity at dif- 

 ferent times, so as to make cross-breeding a neces- 

 sity, we may mention first some plants in which the 

 pollen ripens before the stigma is ready to receive 

 it. We have such a condition of things in the willow- 

 herb, or epilobium tribe. The pretty pink blossoms 

 of a large variety of this genus are to be found, in 

 summer, along the banks of brooks and running 

 ditches. We will confine our remarks to the species 



