POLLEN. 
99 
In the east at the present day, those who cultivate palms, se- 
lect the trees with pistillate flowers, as these alone bear fruit. 
When the plant is in blossom, the peasants gather branches of 
the wild palm trees, whose blossoms contain stamens, and strew 
the pollen over their cultivated trees. 
Pistillate flowers are called fertile , staminate infertile flowers. 
As moisture causes the pollen to explode, rains and heavy 
dews are sometimes injurious to plants; the farmer fears wet 
weather while his corn is in blossom. Nature has kindly order- 
ed that most flowers should either fold their petals together, or 
hang down their heads tvhen the sun does not shine ; thus pro- 
tecting the pollen from injury. 
The fertilization of the fig is said to be accomplished by in- 
sects. In this singular plant the fruit encloses the flower, it is 
at first like a hollow receptacle, lined with many flowers, sel- 
dom both stamens and pistils in the same fig. This receptacle 
has only a small opening at the summit. The seeds therefore 
in general would not be perfected were it not for certain little 
flies, fluttering from one fig to the other, and thus can ying the 
pollen from the staminate to the pistillate flowers. 
Although the fertilization of plants where the stamens and 
pistils are on separate flowers, depends a little upon chance, the 
favorable chances are so numerous that it is hardly possible in 
the order of nature that a pistillate plant should remain unferti- 
lized. The pollen is light, its grains are abundant, and the but- 
terflies, the honey bees, and other insects transport them from 
flower to flower. 
The winds also assist in executing the designs of nature. 
The pollen of the Pines and Firs rising like a cloud above the 
forests moved by the wind, disseminates its grains around, some 
of which falling upon the aments or pistillate flowers, roll with- 
in their scaly envelopes and fertilize the germs. 
A curious fact is stated by an Italian writer ; viz. that in two 
places, about forty miles distant grew two palm trees the one 
without stamens, the other without pistils ; neither of them of 
course bore seed for many years ; but in process of time they 
grew so tall as to tower above all the objects near them. The 
wind thus meeting with no obstruction, wafted the pollen to the 
pistillate flowers, which to the astonishment of all, began to pro- 
duce fruit. 
The number of plants in which the pistils and stamens are on 
different flowers, is few compared to those which have these 
Cultivation of palms in the east — Flowers fold their petals in wet weather 
— Fertilization of the fig- — Various methods by which nature conveys pol- 
len to the pistillate plants — Fact stated by an Italian writer — 
