The Golden Rule for Flowers 215 



up like little air-bubbles, opening suddenly when they 

 reach the surface. Here they float about on the water 

 among the pistillate blossoms in such numbers that 

 they often quite cover them, and by this means convey 

 to them the necessary pollen. When this has been 

 received, the corkscrew stalks, which are often as much 

 as ten feet long, curl up as before, and the fertilized 

 blossoms sink down again to ripen their fruit under 

 water. 



We must now, however, turn to the insects, among 

 which bees have a foremost claim upon our attention, 

 since none are more generally useful in carrying on the 

 very important work of fertilization. Creeping insects 

 are not, as a rule, useful visitors for flowers, as any 

 grains of pollen which they may pick up by the way 

 are liable to be brushed off again before they reach a 

 blossom which might be benefited. But flying insects 

 of all kinds, even to the smallest flies and midges, 

 when once dusted with pollen, are almost sure to 

 convey a few grains to the next blossom upon which 

 they alight. 



Pollen is of vital importance to the plants themselves, 

 besides serving as food to bees and other insects ; but 

 nectar, so far as appears, is of no use to the plant 

 except as serving to attract useful visitors ; and the 

 same may be said of sweet scents and brightly-coloured 

 petals. All these are, in fact, the one, baits, the other, 

 signals, which the plant puts forth to make known to 

 those who understand the language where pollen and 

 nectar may be found. 



' Good entertainment for bees and butterflies ' is 

 what the bright colours mean ; and where, as is often 



