' .1 io I 
grows ; the Anther is that part which is open, 
ignorantly called the feed; it contains the 
Dull:, and, when ripe, opens and fcatters it 
abroad, for the ufe to which nature has def- 
tined it. Clouds of this dufl: may be feen 
about Nettles, Urtica, at their time of flower- 
ing, and Sweet Gale, Myrica. Nature has 
guarded, with nice care, this precious duft, as 
on it's prefervation depends the continuation 
of the fpecies. The apparatus, by which in 
many flowers it is defended from injury, is very 
curious, and often gives a lingular appearance 
to the corol. In wet years it fome times hap- 
pens, that the excefs of moifture caufes the 
anthers to burft, before their contents are ripe, 
and thus we lofe our cherries and apples. It 
has been fuppofcd, that the anthers were pre- 
ferred from injury in rainy feafons by a fine 
waxy fubftance enclofmg their contents. This 
idea was fufpected, by Reaumur, to be erro- 
neous fome years ago, and the experiments of 
the late Mr. John Hunter confirm his opinion. 
Mr. Hunter affirms, that the fubftance gathered 
by bees from the anthers of flowers is not 
wax, as is generally fuppofed, but that it is 
collected by them as food for the bee-maggots, 
and forms what is called the Bee-brcad. A 
i part 
