FISHES AND FISHING. 47 



served in Holland amongst the chevins or large codfish. 

 This is a curious fact for the investigation of the natu- 

 ralist. But how it is to be accomplished is the diffi- 

 culty, as only by considerable and most close observation 

 it could be ascertained, even if it were possible at all 

 to ascertain whilst the fish were alive, whether it were 

 in such a state ? If that could be done, the fish might 

 then be confined, and it would be seen whether it had 

 any productive power. 



Every judicious gardener knows, in backward sea- 

 sons, when there are no bees abroad, that he must 

 fructify his melons and cucumbers, by introducing 

 the farina of the male flower, to the female flower. It 

 is a very plain example of the inherent reproductive 

 property of flowers, to shake the fine farina from a 

 sunflower, which is indeed so minute that it can 

 scarcely be seen with the naked eye; place this 

 under a very moderate power of the microscope, and 

 every single speck is a perfect sunflower, with its 

 leaves and farina, in miniature ; but no seed will be 

 produced unless the farina of the male flower be wafted 

 by the wind, or conveyed byinsects to the female flower. 

 To bees, and other winged insects, man is much in- 

 debted, for conveying the farina of the flowers of 

 fruit trees to those of the opposite sex; in which 

 process the wind also very much assists ; indeed, 

 without these aids, female flowers would bring forth 



