THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



499 



predominant with Burdach, that he goes the length of sup- 

 posing that each nourishes its particular insect, the mis- 

 sion of which is to preside over the mysteries of its esi^ousal. 

 According to the German physiologist, fioAvers only pre- 



255. Influence of Insects upon the Fecundation of Flowers.— Willdenow's Experiment. 



fldwer.s, and enables us to obtain a much larger yield of fruit. However, the figs 

 thus punctured are much less finely flavoured than those which ripen spontan- 

 eously, but it is asserted that the trees thus operated on bear ten times as many 

 figs as when it is not practised. Tournefort saj's that a caprified fig-tree yields as 

 much as 280 lbs. of fruit, whilst onlj' 2.5 lbs. can be got from it when it is not arti- 

 ficially fructified. Ollivier, who also saw this operation practised during his travels 

 in the Levant, and Bosc the writer on hu.sbandry, look upon it as useless. I quite 

 share their opinions; my travels in the East have enabled me to satisfy nij'self, 

 that in many countries where they do not practise this operation the figs are no 

 less fine and abundant. — Pouchet, Botanique Ap2}liqiKe, t. ii. \>. 22. 



