824 
NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
“ Right you are, my boy,” endorsed Uncle 
John. “ Clover bloom is so constructed that it 
cannot make seed if left to itself. The pollen 
grows near the top of the little tubular blossom, 
while the pistil is near the bottom, under a fold 
in the flower. As you know, the pollen grains 
must reach the pistil or no seed will be formed. 
So the clover prepares a jar of honey to offer in 
payment to the insect that will do this work for 
her. There are always two applicants for the 
job: the butterflies and the bumblebees. But the 
butterflies are indifferent workers; their long 
slender tongues sip up the nectar, barely touch¬ 
ing the waiting pollen, and some bands nip holes 
at the base of the honey tube, thus leaving the 
plant a prey to the gall-making beetle and the 
rascally cutworm. Small wonder, then, that the 
clover prefers the honest, thoroughgoing bum¬ 
blebee, and as for that belted leisurely boomer, 
how he does love the clover’s precious nectar! ” 
“ I know a verse about that, Uncle John,” said 
Ruth, and, scarcely waiting for a nod of per¬ 
mission, she finished the talk by reciting happily: 
Though the bumblebee’s a rover, 
Seeking ever for sweetness new, 
To the little Lady Clover 
He in his heart of hearts is true. 
Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! ” 
He hums it over and over. 
