12 



GUIDE TO THE CONSERVATORY. 



brush. Of this kind is the phlox, with many 

 others. In the salvia, a gentle pressure upon the 

 upper surface of the flower will cause the stamens 

 and pistil to remove out of their canopy for their 

 impregnation. It must also be observed, that in 

 some plants,, as in the palms, the male flower is 

 present on one plant and the female on another. 

 In others they are both present upon the same 

 plant, but upon different flowers, as in the cucum- 

 ber ; and, lastly, they are both present on the same 

 flower. 



Observe the centre of any flower, and if its centre 

 be perfect, then the female organ is present, which 

 is called the pistil. This organ is provided with 

 vessels which convey the pollen to the seed-vessel, 

 and when it has effected this function, the flower, 

 which is of no further use, begins to fade away, some 

 nearly instantly., while others remain a long time. 

 The stamina or male organs consist of one or more, 

 never situated in the centre of the seed-vessel, but 

 assuming quite a different character. Sometimes 

 they are placed upon the seed-vessel, in other plants 

 upon the petals, and in nearly all are in such a situa- 

 tion as that the union so necessary for reproduction, 

 is carried on in mechanical order. But we find that 

 when that is not the case, other means are provided 

 by the all-wise Creator, such as insects, &c I cannot 

 better illustrate this than by introducing the account 

 which Dr. Darwin, in his Note to line 395 of his 



