PLOWEkS M RELATION TO BEES. 



179 



pistil should be ripe at the same time. There is, in 

 fact, just one right time, and no other, when that 

 which is necessary can take place. 



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n.> 



Section of Apple Blosjom. 



If it happens in a flower that both the pollen- 

 bearing stamens and the stigma-bearing pistil are 

 ripe at the same time, and there is no peculiarity 

 of construction in the flower to prevent it (although 

 there very often is), the process is easy. The wind, 

 perhaps, shakes the flower, and a little of the pollen- 

 dust is blown on to the pistil, and, since the stigma is 

 sticky, adheres to it, and nothing more is needed. 

 Nature does the rest. 



But with a great many flowers the process is not 

 so easy. Nature, indeed, for a most wise purpose, 

 puts various difficulties in the way. For instance, the 

 fine pollen dust of some flowers is so constituted as to 

 be of no use to the pistil of its own flower, — although 

 both may be ripe together, and may come in contact, 

 — but can only fulfil its purpose when carried to an.- 



