hairs on the under portion of the bee, 

 or has clung to his legs; this, of course, 

 causes cross-fertilization, a peculiar and 

 wonderful provision of nature, which 

 seems to be necesssary for the preser- 

 vation of fruits and flowers and for the 

 improvement of the different kinds. 

 Whole volumes have been written on 

 this subject, which even now is not en- 

 tirely understood, but a single case will 

 give a little insight into the matter. 

 The common primrose will produce 

 even from seeds selected from the same 

 pod, two different kinds of flowers, in 

 about equal proportions, which are ster- 

 ile of themselves. But each kind may, 

 by means of the good ofiflces of the 

 bee or other honey-loving insect, fertil- 

 ize the other. If no bees or other in- 

 sects visit either of these flowers no 

 seed can be produced and the life of 

 the plant ends in a single season. 

 Cross-fertilization is necessary to some 

 plants and beneficial to all. Nature has 

 so devised it and has according!}- made 

 the flowers conspicuous to insects by 

 painting them, in most cases, a differ- 

 ent and brighter hue than the foliage of 

 the plant, making the blossom, in some 

 cases, give forth a pleasant odor, and 

 in nearly all cases causing the flower to 

 secrete the nectar which the insects 

 love. Flowers which do not attract the 



insects by their bright colors, odor, or 

 nectar, are generally adapted to cross- 

 fertilization by the wind or are partly or 

 wholly fertile in themselves. 



It is a pretty well established fact 

 that the flowers which we particularh' 

 esteem, the bright-colored, perfumed, 

 nectar-producing varieties, owe their ex- 

 istence to the bees. We also owe the 

 fruits which we love to the selection of 

 the bee to a large extent. Some of the 

 best varieties of strawberries are en- 

 tirely sterile and must be planted in 

 close proximity to fertilizing varieties 

 in order to bring forth any fruit at all. 

 Some varieties of pears also require fer- 

 tilization by the bees, and cannot bear 

 fruit if bees are excluded. Even the 

 apple is not perfect unless fertilized by 

 the bees, five distinct pollenizations 

 being required to perfect a single blos- 

 som, and in places where orchards do 

 not bear it is often found that the intro- 

 duction of four or five hives of bees 

 for each one hundred trees will cause 

 them to bring forth fruit in abundance. 



So, whether we wear bright flowers, 

 or eat fruit or honey, or stroll through 

 meadows sweet with clover, the handi- 

 work of the bee follows us and im- 

 presses us with the fact that our little 

 friend lives only to give us sustenance, 

 sweetness, and pleasure. 



BIRDS AS SHEPHERDS. 



IN Venezuela there is a species of 

 crane, called by the natives the 

 Yak-a-Mik, which is casil\- tamed 

 and trained to look after a flock of 

 sheep or take care of the inmates of 

 the poultry yard. When these are 

 placed in charge of this bird it may be 

 implicity trusted to take them to their 

 feeding places in the morning and 

 bring them safely home at night, not 

 forgetting to hunt for and collect any 

 stragglers. The Yak-a-Mik (lis])lays 



all the traits of character usually asso- 

 ciated with the faithful sheep-dog. 

 It can be amusing, too, for, while its 

 usual gait is slow and sedate, it can ex- 

 ecute the most fantastic waltzes and 

 strike all sorts of absurd attitudes. A 

 German agriculturist, Herrvon Seyffert, 

 had one of these cranes which took 

 charge of a herd of heifers, driving 

 them to and from their pastures. It 

 also kept order in the poultry yard, 

 stopping all fighting ami disorder. 



