BOTANY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 93 



is only a large hollow pear shaped juicy recep- 

 tacle within which the minute flowers and seeds 

 can be discovered by a good microscope ; it has 

 a small orifice on the top with a kind of scaly 

 valve. It was formerly supposed that the pollen 

 of the male flowers was carried to the stigma of 

 the female by means of small flies that may be 

 seen fluttering from one fig to another. 



L. I have heard a description of that before, 

 and it has been adduced as showing the won- 

 derful care of Providence. 



E. That the flies really carry the pollen has 

 been disputed. In hot climates the fig produces 

 two crops of fruit, but to do this the gardeners 

 have to hasten the ripening of the first in order 

 to leave time for the second to come to maturity. 

 We are told that the peasants in the isles of the 

 Archipelago, where the first abounds, bring 

 branches of the wild Fig Tree in the spring, 

 which they sprinkle over those that are culti- 

 vated. 



L. That reminds me of what you said in re- 

 lation to carrying male flowers of the Date 

 Tree and shaking them so as to sprinkle the 

 pollen over the stigma of the female to ensure 

 fruit. 



