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AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE. 



of the whole of the gourd order is so easily controlled, that the 

 bee must be acquitted, although he has pleaded guilty, on the 

 ground that the growers have wholly contributed to the result 

 by their indolence, carelessness, or ignorance. A little ignorance 

 in these matters is far more dangerous than the proverbial little 

 knowledge. 



The essential organs of plant-life — that is to say, those organs 

 wholly contributing to reproduction — are so prominent in the 

 larger tpye of blossoms, such as pumpkins, fuchsias, the flowers 

 of most fruit-trees, maize, &c, they can be seen with the naked 

 eye and their functions easily demonstrated by or to anyone having 

 the "observing eye." There is no necessity for a costly set of 

 microscopic appliances, nor scientifically fitted-up laboratories, nor 

 years of apprenticeship "to boot," to become an expert in the use 

 Nature makes of the essential organs of flowers. The primary 

 function of flowers, and, indeed, the only use flowers or blossoms 

 are to the trees that bear them, is that of reproducing or perpetuat- 

 ing its species. The most essential parts of a flower are the stamens 

 and pistil. These essential organs are most vigorous, healthy, and 

 free from blemish in the earlier parts of the day. Just after the 

 corolla bursts, these unfurl, the anthers become distributive — i.e., 

 the pollen they contain is sufficiently matured to be wafted by the 

 wind, or gathered by insects or other agencies for fertilising pur- 

 poses — and later the stigma becomes receptive. The atmosphere 

 during these early hours, in spring time, as a rule, is characterised 

 by a dead calmness, or at the most by gentle breezes. This calm- 

 ness is most beneficial, and is a highly necessary agent in ensuring 

 successfully the fructification of entomophilous fruits. The more 

 frequently the bees trip to and fro from home to orchard and 

 orchard to home, the greater and better are the results that follow 

 their labours. 



I have used the terms bloom, flower, and blossom, indiscri- 

 minately. They are synonymous. The two former are generally 

 applied to the flowers on ornamental plants, and the last to fruio- 

 trees. 



To understand how the all-important work of fertilisation is 

 carried on by bees and other insects, it will be necessary to glance 

 over the accompanying diagram, and have a slight knowledge of 

 the functions each portion of a bloom has to perform. 



The pistil (3), Diagram I, is divided into ovary (4), style (2), 

 and stigma (1). The stigma is the end of the style turned inside 

 out. It has four very peculiar characteristics : First, it is skinless ; 



