68 MYSTERIES OF THE FLOWERS 



August. Each flower has but four petals, and 

 seems to have lost a lower one, which should serve 

 as a landing-stage, but we may be sure ffom this 

 that it desires to attract visitors who sip while on 

 the wing. 



Apple — Malus 

 Pear — Pyrus 



These are two common flowers, simple of struc- 

 ture and easy to investigate as to the development 

 of their anthers and their stigmas. They are espe- 

 cially attractive to the honey-bees, each tree in 

 bloom becoming vocal with their humming. I 

 would suggest that the observer watch closely the 

 bee at work, and notice that he gets well powdered 

 with pollen about his head and chest at each flower, 

 and, while he is on the wing to another blossom, 

 he takes the opportunity to rub some of this off, 

 into the pollen-bags of his hind legs. The work is 

 done in a twinkling, but it is the secret of the bee's 

 efficiency as a gatherer of pollen. .What he rubs 

 on his legs he is sure to carry home to his hive, 

 while enough remains on his head to cross-fertilise 

 the next blossom he visits. 



