BEES IN RELATION TO FLOWERS. 247 



and necessary connection between the two kingdoms 

 of nature. 



Firstly, then, as well-known instances of pistil- 

 bearing and stamen-bearing flowers occurring separ- 

 ately on the same plant, we may mention cucumbers, 

 melons, marrows, et hoc genus omne. Now, when 

 these vegetables are grown under glass, whether in 

 greenhouses or in pits, to which bees and other 

 insects have little or no access, gardeners find it 

 necessary themselves to apply the pollen-bearing 

 portions of the one kind of flower to the pistil of 

 the other. If this is neglected to be done, the fruit 

 makes no progress, turns yellow, and dies. Where, 

 however, the plants are grown in the open air, or are 

 not so shut up as to exclude insects, they will be 

 fertilised without the intervention of man ; for bees 

 of various kinds will certainly visit the flowers, and 

 carry the life-giving dust where it is needed. In fact, 

 we believe it might be asserted with confidence, 

 that in all plants, where this separation of, what we 

 may call, the sexes takes place, the flowers possess 

 special attractiveness to the tenants of our hives; 

 and it is well that this is the case, otherwise the 

 continued existence of such plants would be seriously 

 endangered. 



As examples of dioecious genera, or those having 

 pollen-bearing flowers on one plant and pistiliferous 

 flowers on another, we may note the willows, the 

 poplars, and the firs ; and it is remarkable that these 

 all are special favourites with bees. In the early 

 spring, when breeding has been going on in the 

 hives, and when the demands of the advancing larvae 

 require considerable supplies of pollen, the catkins 



