THE PEA FAMILY. 429 



there are long stamens and almost sessile anthers alternating 

 in the same flower ; and I believe this plant has never been 

 known to fruit in this coun- 

 try. The noble specimen 

 in the ducal gardens at 

 Chats worth might possibly 

 be induced to fruit by care- 

 fully cross - fertilising the 

 flowers with pollen from 

 the long or short stamens, 

 particular attention being 

 paid to fertilise at the ex- 



, , Longitudinal section (magnified} of the 



act time \Vhen me Stigma flower of a leguminous plant. 



is in a receptive condition. 



I have not examined the structure in Jonesia and Brownea, 

 both nearly - allied genera. Apart from the structure and 

 curvature of the sexual organs, the floral envelopes seem 

 in most cases especially constructed and arranged so as to 

 favour cross - fertilisation by insects. This subject has re- 

 peatedly, however, been alluded to by different observers, and 

 the reader interested will find notes on the structure and fer- 

 tilisation of Indigofera in the 'Jour. Linn. Soc.,' ix. 327 

 and 355, and also notes on Dr Hildebrand's paper on Medi- 

 cagOj Indigofera, and Cytisus, published in the ' Botanische 

 Zeitung' (March 1866); and to the same paper a note of Mr 

 Darwin's is appended, on the contrivances by which cross- 

 fertilisation is effected by insect agency in the Common Broom 

 (Cytisus scoparius). When we remember the immense diver- 

 sity of structure and arrangement in this large order, also the 

 variation in colour and odour, Sir John Lubbock's views as to 

 the modifications of flowers by insect agency seem to possess 

 especial weight. Clover depends for fertilisation on bees ; and 

 it has been found necessary to send these useful insects out to 

 New Zealand as aids to agriculture. It has been pointed out 

 by Darwin and others that the large humble-bees aid agri- 

 culture very much by fertilising Clover, and thus increasing 

 the yield of fertile seeds. 



Acacia. This genus is well known as furnishing many 

 ornamental species, which are largely grown as greenhouse or 

 conservatory shrubs. They belong to the Mimosa section of 

 Papilionacese, and bea* globular clusters of bright yellow flowers 

 among their glaucous or bright green phyllodia. A, armata, A. 

 lophanta, A. dealbata, and others, are well-known examples. 

 They are propagated from layers, or imported or home-grown 

 seeds, which, to facilitate their germination, ought to be soaked 



