228 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



some of the pollen grains on the female organ of the blos- 

 som (pistil). Thus, almost mechanically and accidentally, 

 the function of the bee has been performed in this vital 

 operation. Finally, the pollen lodged on the sensitive pistil 

 germinates much as does seed, and sends forth or projects 

 a slender gTowth or thread which gTadually finds its way 

 down through the pistil and reaches the true female element 

 or ovule which is virtually the embryonic seed. Here, there 

 is a fusion of the male and female elements which, when 

 it occurs, perfects the process known as fertilization, where- 

 from results a perfect seed. 



Many plants are sterile to their own pollen and require 

 pollen from another source. Furthermore, self-fertilization 

 is thought to tend to weaken the offspring, and in contrast 

 crossing or cross fertilization is thought to result in greater 

 strength and productivity. Moreover, flowers are generally 

 constructed to favor cross fertilization and to prevent per- 

 petual self-pollination. 



From the standpoint of the plant, the results of crossing 

 become ap]5arent especially in the second generation. Thus 

 the Baldwin apple blossom may be fertilized by pollen from 

 a Porter apple. The resulting apple will develop as a Bald- 

 win, yet one or more of its seed when planted may produce 

 a variety, differing in many respects from its parent. Thus 

 the bees may serve to make new crosses and to increase 

 varieties. 



There is also another feature, namely, the apple requires 

 five independent fertilizations for complete results. The 

 lack of even one of these may impair its vigor and change 

 its appearance, resulting in an imperfect development or mal- 

 formed fruit. Incomplete fertilization also explains the 

 dropping of apples, and suggests that the more complete serv- 

 ice of bees might avoid this consequent loss. 



Some light may be thrown on the dependence of flowers 

 on bees by a few concrete exam])les. An experiment was 

 conducted in which 100 clover blossoms were covered with 

 netting in order to exclude bees, with the result that not a 

 single seed was produced. Similarly 100 blo^^soms exposed 



