118 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 10, 1893. 
Scarlet Runner is, after all, not derived from Pbaseolus multi- 
florus, but from Phaseolus vulgaris, the Dwarf or FrenchBean. That 
the old Case Knife, the Butter, and the climbing white or pale 
flowered section of the French, are come from Phaseolus vulgaris 
can hardly be doubted, but the scarlet and white Dutch Runner 
section is absolutely differelit in every respect ; the plants never 
assume a dwarf form, and always have fleshy or tuberous roots, 
which practically make them perennial. But the question opened up 
under the above heading has wider range than is found in its 
present limitations. The matter applies to all flowers, more or less 
—to the question as to how far insect agency is absolutely essential 
to pollenation or floral fertility, or how far, on the other hand, 
Nature performs her functions in flowers without external aid. 
We have here, whether it be limited to the consideration of the 
fertilisation of Runner Bean flowers only, or to the wider one of 
the actual necessity for insect agency in relation to flowers gene¬ 
rally, a subject into which the Scientific Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society may well dip with perhaps much greater 
advantage to horticulture than is at present made evident from 
the deliberations of that distinguished body. 
I do not think that insect agency is absolutely essential to the 
fertilisation of Bean flowers, because I think the actual polleii- 
ation has taken place before the flowers are expanded. It is 
certainly the case with Peas, and I think it is the case with most 
pod-bearing plants. Anyone who dissects a Bean flower will find 
that it is practically impossible for a bee or other similar insect to 
assist pollenation in any way, and as the bees, if carefully watched, 
are found to avoid all partially expanded blooms, and to operate on 
those fully open, the inference is that they are too late to assist in 
fertilisation. 
Looking over literally hundreds of allotments in different parts 
of Surrey in almost every one of which Runner Beans were grow¬ 
ing well, I invariably found a fine well set crop. This I attri¬ 
buted to the cooler atmosphere and active air found in open 
fields as compared with what is found in hot enclosed gardens. 
C-reat heat, and especially a dry temperature, may be, indeed I 
think must be, productive of barrenness, and especially so when 
aided by drought at the roots. Thus we invariably find that the 
earliest flowers on Runner Beans set well, also the later ones 
when the temperature is lower, indeed the flowers never set so freely 
as towards the end of August and early in September. It is 
during exceptional hot dry weather that barrenness results; but the 
trouble is all over now and there is a plentiful setting going on. I 
find this to be the case in a very hot dry town yard with my 
Runner Beans.—A. Dean. 
which anthers and stigma are contained, the point of the stigma 
protruding slightly, and being pushed out more on the slightest 
pressure from above, the anthers remaining just visible at the 
mouth of the opening. Whether pollen is unusually deficient I 
cannot say. The flowers can hardly be fertilised by bees, as it is 
their habit in visiting these flowers to puncture the lower side of 
the calyx, if not already done ; and I observe that they proceed at 
once to this aperture as if by instinct. Neither hive bees nor 
humble bees nor wasps are below the average in quantity this year. 
All of these visit the flowers, and all extract the honey in the same 
way ; I believe they do so every year. I know several other 
flowers which they invariably treat so. My gardener believed 
that the unusual abundance of these insects, and their habit of 
lacerating the base of the calyx, and so damaging the attachment 
of the embryo pod, was the cause of failure ; but I do not agree 
to this. I tried brushing a quantity of marked flowers with a 
camel-hair pencil, and my gardener tied up in muslin a quantity 
more whilst still in bud, but the result did not answer our expec¬ 
tation. About the same proportion, and no more (say 10 per cent.), 
set pods. Those within the muslin may have been self-fertilised ; 
but I find in nearly all the flowers within the sheath of the keel 
thrips, small coleoptera, and mites sufficient to fertilise them. 
The Scarlet Runners in my garden have at no time of their 
growth suffered from drought, and are more luxuriant than usual. 
I think in this fact we may perhaps have a clue to the cause of 
failure. It is generally believed that too luxuriant growth is a 
cause of sterility both in the animal and vegetable creation. Virgil 
warns farmers against it, both as regards corn and live stock ; and 
the only point on which all your correspondents agree is that the 
appearance of the plants this year is unusually healthy and 
luxuriant.—C. Wolley Dod, Edge Hall, Malpus. 
P.S.—On dissecting the flowers and examining them with a 
quarter-inch lens I find that they abound with thrips and red 
spider. These pests, which have been everywhere abundant 
through the spring and summer, find a comfortable home within 
the twisted sheath of the keel which encloses the vital organs of 
the flower. They worry and render abortive those parts, and are 
perhaps a more probable cause of the failure complained of than 
the luxuriance of growth as suggested above. The prevalent wet 
weather will probably lessen the plague, and we shall get more 
beans.—C. W. D. 
I BEG to correct one word in the latter portion of my note in 
last week’s issue, page 106. It runs thus, “ The disturbance of the 
reproductive organs is the cause of failure.” For “ disturbance ” 
read non-disturbance of the pollen grains ; nor is it either dis¬ 
tributed by insects from flower to flower to ensure the desired 
effect. Whilst jotting this correction I came across some of 
Professor H. Muller’s observation on the fertilisation of Phaseolus 
coccineus, Lam.'). He says, the hive bee and other small bees 
which are unable to press the carina down obtain the honey by 
taking advantage of holes which a humble bee (I suppose Bombus 
terrestris, L.) bites through the calyx. More powerful bees, with 
sufficiently long proboscides, alight on the left ala, and in forcing 
the proboscis down into the flower bring its base in contact with 
the stigma. Now, when the ala and the carina (which is united 
to them) are further depressed, there emerges from the tubular 
apex of the carina, which is coiled nearly into two complete 
whorls, the similarly coiled style, and it emerges in such a way 
that its stigma points downwards and towards the left, and its 
pollen covered hairs come in contact with the base of the insect’s 
proboscis, dusting it with fresh pollen. In this manner cross- 
fertilisation is insured, and self-fertilisation prevented in case of 
insect visits. In absence of insects self-fertilisation cannot occur, 
since the stigma protrudes from the carina, while the pollen is 
enclosed within it. 
The similar mode of fertilisation in the Kidney Bean (Phaseolus 
vulgaris, L.) was described ten years earlier by Darwin, who showed 
by experiment that insect visits are essential for the fertilisation of 
this plant. Plants covered with fine net remained completely 
barren, unless the action of bees were artificially imitated. When 
Darwin repeated the experiment on a larger scale a few flowers on 
some specimens bore fruit. Small insects (thrips) had presumably 
gained access to these. Dr. Ogle also gives a description of the 
floral mechanism in P. vulgaris (French Bean), and P. coccinea 
(Scarlet Runner). Of the flowers which Dr. Ogle protected from 
bees by means of a gauze net no single one bore fruit.— 
J. D., Duffryn, S. Wales. 
The Fertilisation of Runner Bean Flowers. 
Whilst I generally agree with Mr. Abbey in his conclusions as 
to the non-u«es of insects in relation to the fertilisation of Bean 
flowers, I differ from him entirely in his assertion that the 
HARDY PERENNIALS FOR CUTTING. 
No garden can be considered complete without a serviceable 
border of hardy perennials for cutting. Although there is never 
at any time a general display, except, perhaps, when Squills, 
Narcissi, and other spring-flowering bulbs are in bloom, something 
of interest may be had continuously, and by judicious selection it 
is possible to have at all times a good supply of cut flowers. 
Flowers in early spring are especially appreciated, since consider¬ 
able time must elapse before a general display of summer-blooming 
annuals, like Sweet Peas, Stocks, Poppies, and Asters may be had. 
New or rare kinds are not always satisfactory to the amateur, but 
there are many of free and easy growth which can be thoroughly 
recommended. 
Lenten Roses, mostly hybrids or forms of Helleborus orientalis, 
are among the earliest flowers. These are bowl-shaped, white, 
sometimes shaded with green or reddish purple, and often beauti¬ 
fully spotted. They are borne on leafy stems, and are very 
serviceable flowers to cut, keeping well for a long time. The best 
time to plant or to divide the clumps is in the autumn. Some of 
the best hybrids are Frau Irene Heinemann, Hofgarten Inspector 
Hartweg, and Willby Schmidt. The Christmas Rose (H. niger) 
blooms in southern and eastern Europe during the winter, and 
imported roots are frequently offered in America. It would be 
well to note here that it is not a very satisfactory hardy plant, at 
least in the New England States. Being disposed to bloom on the 
occurrence of a mild spell, it is sure to be cut down by the 
succeeding sharp frosts. Spring frosts usually injure the young 
leaves, and consequently it is rarely in a very thrifty condition 
in that part of America. 
The numerous species and varieties of Narcissus furnish some 
of the most beautiful spring flowers useful for cutting. While 
many of the newer and rarer garden hybrids are costly, there are 
common kinds in abundance which may be had cheaply enough to 
be within the reach of all, and it may be taken as an axiom that 
the cheaper they are the more satisfactory they will be. The 
common English Daffodil and its varieties are probably better 
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