FLOWERS. 31 



another, distantly situated, either on the same plant as in 

 monoecious trees, or on a different plant as in dioecious, is 

 wonderfully obviated by the provision that nature has 

 made for its transmission, not only By the atmosphere, 

 but by insects, that pass from one flower to another feed- 

 ing on their honied secretions ; the pollen adheres to them 

 and they carry it from one to another. 



All natural flowers of the same species j^resent the 

 same number of petals in their flowers, but occasionally 

 the stamens are converted into petals, and thus what are 

 called doithle flowers are produced. Among fruit trees we 

 have double flowering apples, plums, peaches, and cherries. 

 These seldom produce fruit; when perfectly double never. 

 All our double flowers, roses, paeonies, dahlias, &c., have 

 been obtained by this transformation of the stamens into 

 petals. It is supposed to be caused by an excessively 

 high cultivation given to the plants that produce the 

 seeds from which these double varieties spring. 

 ' 4. Period of Blossomioig. — In treating of fruit buds 

 allusion has been made to the causes which, according to 

 observation and experience, promote fruitfulness. These 

 are chiefly a slow or moderate growth, and a branching 

 or S2:)reading, constrained form, instead of an upright one. 

 Some species of trees bloom at a much earlier age than 

 others. Thus the ]3each, the apricot, and the cherry will 

 bloom in nearly one-fourth less time from the bud, all 

 things being equal, than the pear. Some species bloom 

 at an earlier period of the season than others ; the apricot 

 and the peach bloom very early, and this is the chief rea- 

 son why the crop is so often destroyed in localities subject 

 to late spring frosts. Among fruits even of the same spe- 

 cies there is much difference in the jjeriod of blooming : 

 one variety of apple being nearly two weeks later than 

 another. This, in some sections, is an important quality, 

 where every day the blossom is retarded renders the crop 



