IJ^O FERTILIZATION. 



acquainted with this fact in reference to the Date Palm* 

 They discerned tiiat in the blossom of one tree, rudiments 

 of fruit existed, vvliile in that of others no such rudiment- 

 ary fruit was produced, but that the powder i)roduced by 

 the flower of the latter, must be sprinkled in the flowers of 

 the other in order to the perfection of the fruit. The above 

 and simihir facts constituted all the knowledge of the ancients 

 on the subject of fertilization ; and it was not til! the latter 

 part of the seventeenth century that any thint]^ like proper 

 notions began to prevail. Ray, in Entland, and Mulpighi, in 

 Italy, were among the first who placed the subject in its true 

 light. Their investigations led them to the conclusion that 

 the " pollen was endowed with prolific power, and served to 

 fertilize the seeds." 



Within the last few years this subject has received the par- 

 ticular attention of the most distinguished philosophers, and 

 the important facts which they have disclosed, constitute a 

 proud triumph of their skill and sagacity, over the most hid- 

 den operations of nature. 



150. The anther and its contents, the pollen, and the various 

 parts comprising the pistil, we have already described. It 

 will now be our object to trace the operations ol nature in ac- 

 complishing the end intended by the production of these va- 

 rious pans. 



The anther in its early stage, together with the pollen, forms 

 a compact and moi^t bo 'y. After the flower expands, the 

 anther matures; the pollen absorbs the fluid from the cells 

 lining the anthers. These cells as we have before remarked, 

 were ])roved by Purkinje to consist of the fibrous cellular tissue, 

 and this tissue, when deprived of moisture, becomes exceed- 

 ingly elastic, and the fibres then act as springs in hursting 

 the anther. Now, Mirbel has demonstrated tliat during the 

 perfection of the pollen, the fluid of this tissue is drawn by 

 the endosmose of the pollen from it. The presence of this 

 fluid is necessary to the perfection of the polbjin and it is 

 equally necessary that it should be drawn irom the fibrous 

 tissue, that it may perform its appropriate and necessary 

 function of bursting the anther. What a beautiful provision 

 for ensuring the due preparation of all parts, so that none 

 might be prematurely or tardily performed ! Under this or- 

 ganization the anther cannot burst till the pr)llen has drawn 

 its perfecting nourishment; on the other hand the pollen can- 

 not mature only by a means which ensures its immediate 

 escape when perfected. 



During this preparation of the pollen the pistil is under- 



