66 



municated with a dissepiment or partition, ard required an independent 

 fertilisation. Bees seeldng honey would, by getting their breasts (furnished 

 as they are with abundance of long webbed hairs) thoroughly dusted with 

 apple-pollen, and flitting to a bloom whose stigma had reached the recep- 

 tive condition, bring about fertilisation. It would, however, frequently 



i a 



Section of Apple (Pyrus malus) A — Blossom ; B — Fruit. 



happen that three or four of the stigmata only would be pollinated. In 

 this case an apple, though an imperfect one (see Fig. B) would be pro- 

 duced. Trees agitated by the winds frequently drop a number of their 

 fruits, hence known as " windfalls," but the actual cause of this dropping is 

 in by far the largest number of instances defective fertilisation. 



The well-known author of "Bees and Beekeeping" says (Vol. i, page 

 323)- 



I had two hundred apples, that had dropped during a gale, gathered 

 promiscuously lor a lecture illustration, and the cause of falling in every 

 case but eight was traceable to imperfect fertilisation. Such fruits are 

 readily recognised by being deformed, a part faihng to grow (see Fig. B) 

 from the want of perfect fertilisation. Cutting one such apple across, no 

 seed will be found opposite the undeveloped part. These facts taken to- 

 gether show conclusively how completely our fruit-crop is dependent upon 

 insect agencies, and amongst these the hive-bee takes the most important 

 place. 



In the case of the strawberry — and the same applies to the raspberry 

 and other berry fruits — each Uttle achenia (popularly known as seed) dotting 

 its surface possesses a style and stigma (see Fig. A). The stigma of each 



oecaon of Full-grown iStrawberry, partially fertilised, showiiig Undeveloped 



Portion. 



