BEE MANUAL. 77 



the pistil of the next blossom they visit and that may happen 

 to have that organ developed. In order fully to understand 

 the advantages proposed to be obtained by cross-fertilization, 

 one must read the works of those who have made the subject 

 their special study; it only concerns us here to note that, as 

 Mr. Harris says in his book on "The Honey Bee "' — 



"It must not be supposed, however, that even the hermaphrodite, 

 or double- sexed, flowers are independent of the visits of bees and other 

 insects. In all of them, as Darwin has abundantly proved, cross- 

 fertilization is a most important factor in the continued vitality of any 

 species, and gives an immense advantage in the ' struggle for exist- 

 ence,' where the conditions for life are not wholly favourable. Indeed, 

 in many instances, special provision has been made by the Creator 

 against self-fertilization ; in some cases, by the anthers and pistils com- 

 ing to maturity, in the same flower, at different times ; in others, by 

 the placing of the stamens in such a position relatively to the stigma 

 (or top of the pistil) that it is not possible for the pollen grains of the 

 one set of organs to fall on the surface of the other. " 



We shall here give an illustration of one out of the many 

 interesting cases of special provision, in the structure of the 

 flower, to secure cross-fertilization by the aid of the bee's 

 visits. 



Tig. 24 SAIV1A OFFICINALIS. 



Young Flower visited by a Bee. 



In the common sage, Salvia officinalis, both the stamens and 

 the pistil are of a very peculiar form, and the latter is not 

 fully developed and ready to be fecundated until after the 

 anthers of the same blossom have shed their pollen. The 

 shape of the flower, and the mode in which the bee enters it 

 is shown in the above figure, in which the tip of the still 

 undeveloped pistil is seen just over the back of the bee, which 

 is forcing its way down to the nectary, through the stamens. 

 The latter are not visible. 



