SomME LETTERS OF PATRICK MILLER. 147 
56 Michael Stewart Maxwell (1768-1803), Colonel of the Dum- 
friesshire Light Dragoons, second son of Sir William Maxwell, 3rd 
Baronet of Springkell. 
57 16th October, 1801. 
58 17th November, 1809. 
59 20th December, 1809. 
60 Mr J. Macfarlan, of the Patent Office, who has contributed 
to recent volumes of these Transactions, has, with his usual genero- 
sity, been of the greatest assistance in the editing of these letters. 
9th December, 1921. 
Chairman—-Mr JaMEs Davipson, V.-P. 
Co-operation and the Origin of Flowers. 
By Mr G:F. Scorr-Eruior, F.R.G.S., F:L-S. 
Co-operation seems to be a universal law of nature. 
The body of each plant and of every animal, the life of 
every individual, the well-being of every association whether 
of plants or of animals, and indeed the general life of the 
world, depends upon co-operation and upon _ ruthless 
specialisation. 
In Britain there is a marked co-operation in the display 
of flowers. From the first spring mornings, when the cold 
and austere reserve of winter begins to pass away in sun- 
shine and soft weather, until quite late in October, flowers 
follow one another continually; each has its own hours of 
the day and its favourite month, but yet many can adapt 
themselves to the caprices of our uncertain climate.* 
Time of flowering seems to coincide in a remarkable 
manner with the appearance of those insects which carry the 
pollen. The queen bee and wasp in early spring find flowers 
ready for them. The first broods, second and later broods, 
all the great developments of insect life in early summer, in 
midsummer, and in late autumn, agree with correspondingly 
* I have been favoured by Mrs Williams of Dornells with a list 
of no less than forty flowers in bloom on the 31st October, 1921. 
