42 



THE FAMILY AQUAEIUM. 



gluten, albumen, gelatin, wax, oils, resins, acids, aroma, 

 the ligneous fibre, etc. ; how these substances in their 

 last analysis are resolved back into their original constitu- 

 ents, and so on, this is no place for us to explain. W e 

 may, however, properly close this portion of our subject 

 with a glance at the mystery of vegetable propagation. 



Most plants have both sexes united in one flower. The 

 pollen, or farina, is prepared and preserved in certain mas- 

 culine vessels called anthers. The finer particles of this 

 pollen penetrate through the stigma in the feminiue por- 

 tion, to the ovary, and fructify the germs or ovules there 

 deposited. But then some plants do not unite the two 

 sexes in one flower. Some have male and female blossoms 

 on one stem. Some plants of a kind are wholly masculine 

 in their organization, and some wholly feminine. Some- 

 times these grow near each other, and sometimes they 

 grow miles apart. When in proximity, the wind carries 

 the pollen from one to the other, or else nature adopts a 

 very ingenious plan of effecting her purpose. Certain small 

 flies, attracted by the honey of the male flower, are com- 

 pelled to dust themselves all over with the pollen in order 

 to get at the luscious luxury. The moment they visit the 

 female-flower for honey, that flower closes on them, and 

 crawling in all directions to escape, they fructify the plant 

 perforce. For plants of different sexes, that grow at a dis- 

 tance from each other, bees and other insects perform the 

 part of involuntary go-betweens. In pilfering the honey 

 from the male flower they powder themselves with the pollen, 



