BEES AS FERTILISERS. 313 



sented, any summer afternoon, in the Herbaceous 

 Garden at Kew, where hundreds of various Labiates, 

 growing side by side, attract crowds of bees, of 

 different genera and varied sizes, which, entering 

 the curious flowers these plants bear so profusely, 

 bring the hiding anthers into view, literally getting 

 patted on the back for their pains. It is. only, 

 however, insects of the correct bulk that can effect 

 the work ; they must be large enough to meet the 

 anther, and reach up to the stigma ; and so, to prevent 

 smaller ones from stealing that abundant nectar in- 

 tended for their superiors, in size at least, the lobster- 

 pot arrangement, previously noted, is supplied, and 

 seen at h, C and E, up to which the nectar frequently 

 extends. But this is not the only manner in which 

 thieves are kept at bay ; in a salvia common on the 

 Continent {Salvia glutinosa), there are no internal 

 hairs, but the flower-spikes, bracts, and the entire out- 

 side of the blossom, are covered by secreting trichomes, 

 which are exceedingly sticky, frequently holding as 

 prisoners crowds of small insects, that vainly paw 

 the air, pleading for release. The inside of the 

 flower, including the lip upon which the bees settle, 

 is not adhesive, so that the favoured insect is not 

 incommoded. The plan brings to mind the Erica 

 Tetralix (page 294). 



In the order Cruciferae we have many useful 

 honey plants, embracing the wallflower, stock, cress, 

 rocket, cabbage, turnip, and mustard; the wild form 

 of the latter (charlock, or cadlock), as a widespread 

 weed, yielding, in some districts, the staple of the 

 bee-keeper's harvest. The most usual form of adap- 



