18 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
May Tf, 1903. 
actually injurious. “Smallage,’ the 
founder of the modern branch of the 
‘family, is a rank and acrid weed, which 
develops in moist situations a poisonous 
narcotic principle. Excess of moisture, 
or insufficient earthing up at the right sea- 
gon, will even now demoralise a whole crop 
of celery, which at once gives unmistake- 
able hint of those noxious qualities that 
have only been conquered by the labors of 
many generations of gardeners. And the 
reason is simple enough. The develop- 
ment of the narcotic principle is favored 
by light and moisture. Without the for- 
mer, indeed, its secretion becomes almost 
impossible. Darkness and_ seasonable 
dryness, on the other hand, promote the 
aromatic qualities of the plant. Here 
we have the whole philosophy of the 
“earthing up” operation, with which even 
greater personages than Marshal Tallart— 
a true lover of gardening—have recreated 
their minds and hardened their muscles. 
The little nips and foretastes of frost which 
come to perfect this delightful esculent 
are now at hand; but while we appreciate 
the crisp finishing touches thus bestowed 
upon our celery, let us not fail to acknow- 
ledge our indebtedness to the persevering 
cultivator who “earthed it up.”—Globe. 
SCIENTIFIC. 
-FERTILIZATION OF FLOWERS... 
(By Sicma.] 
+f a 
II. 
Cross Fertiization.—This part of my 
subject is the most interesting and instruc- 
tive, inasmuch as the “devices adopted” by 
flowers for preventing self-fertilization ‘are 
truly remarkable and wonderfully ingeni- 
ous. I have said the “devices adopted” 
for want of a better term, thereby attribut- 
ing voluntary conscious actions to flowers. 
Of course, this is incorrect, but I am sure 
you will, after seeing a few examples, agree 
with me that flowers appear at least to be 
possessed of conscious will power. At ‘he 
outset let me say that Darwin’s theory of 
evolution as applied to flowers is based on 
the “survival of the fittest’? in this way. 
Originally flowers fertilised themselves, 
thus producing degeneracy. Some, per- 
haps, by chance, were cross-fertilised. 
These gave rise to strong healthy plants, 
which survived and maintained the species. 
Gradually flowers more and more adapted 
will eventually decline, while self-fertilised . 
Well, you can believe; 
ones will improve. 
which theory you please, and if anxious to 
settle the matter in your own mind turn 
your attention to the literature of the sub- 
ject. 
However, let me direct your attention to 
a few examples of these devices, and I will 
endeavour to select instances either among 
common gaiden flowers or well-known in- 
digenous ones. In passing, I should ad- 
vise you not to rest content with a know- 
ledge of the outside appearance of-flowers, 
but on all occasions to carefully’ dissect 
them, and note the position of the different 
organs. Much may thus be learnt about 
fertilization, and the examination produce 
a lasting impression. You may be sure that 
not a hair exists but is of some service to 
the flower. 
Whether self-fertilization is detrimental 
to the reproduction of healthy plants or 
not, we find some remarkable instances of 
devices adopted for preventing it. Let me 
cite a few. ; 
The stamens may ripen before the 
stigmatic surfaces become ex osed, or vice 
versa. This, of course, is effectual. 
The stamens may be in such a position 
relatively to the stigma as to render self- 
pollination an impossibility. For instance, 
the style may overtop the stamens consi- 
derably, and therefore be well out of the 
way of the pollen. The pistil may be 
sterile to the pollen of the same flower, 
as is the case with the Myosotis (Forget- 
Me-Not). Nearly all flowers hang in such a 
way that the pollen of those above on the 
sime bush cannot reach the stigma of tho. 
below. However, it is absolutely neces- 
sary, when self-fertilization is avoided in 
any way, for the plant to be cross-fertilised, 
and this is in general brought about by 
insects which carry the pollen from flower 
to flower as they search for honey. It may 
be carried on the head, on the back, »n 
the underside, or on the legs. Not only 
are plants indispensable to insects, but, as 
will be seen, insects are absolutely neces- 
sary to plants. As flowers became more 
and more specialised and suited for the 
insects, so these latter became modified to 
carry on the work of cross-fertilization. 
This evolution of insects is interesting, and 
most conclusive, but is outside the province 
of this paper. 
Insects, as I said, visit flowers for the 
purpose of procuring honey, the carriage of 
pollen iand fertilization being quite unin- 
tentional on their part. It is simply mar- 
vellous how pollination is indirectly car- 
ried on by insects while seeking their food. 
Most flowers secrete honey, but it may be 
in various parts of the flower, and in order 
to cross-fertilization were evolved, because 4 to guide the insect to the exact) place bright 
more fitted to environment, and hence thé ~ 
ingenious devices of the present day. Self- 
fertilising flowers are, he asserts, relics of 
the old forms, and have so far not been 
evolved sufficiently. On the other hand, 
Henslow has contraverted all this, and «s- 
serts that the crossfertilizing flowers are 
the original form. Darwin, he says, was 
entirely misled by his own experiments, 
and was illogical.  Cross-fertilised plants 
may for a time thrive and be stronger, but 
patches of color or strong markings (Nas- 
turtiums) occur. Beetles like yellow, wasps 
are attracted by reddish brown, bees show 
a preference for purple or blue. 
honey glands lose color after fertilization 
The odor of a flower also serves to attract 
moths, &c. It will be noticed that 
strongly scented flowers are inconspicuous 
in coloration; also that most night-flower- 
ing plants have a perfume often not pre- 
sent by day, and are white or pale yellow. 
Sham — 
Ants and voracious beetles are useless or 
even destructive, consequently we find hairs 
and such like appendages fringing the 
flower to prevent these undesirable guests 
from entering. Ants especially seem to be 
disliked by flowers. ~ 
As a rule, inconspicuous, regular, and 
sombre-colored flowers are not fertilised by 
insects at all. Other methods are resorted 
to for continuance of the species. 
Flowers at certain times of the day go 
to sleep; the corolla closes, and undesir- 
able insects are excluded. This shutting 
up of the flower seems to take place when 
honey-eating insects are at home. No 
doubt flowers also close to prevent the rain 
washing out the honey, or disturbing the 
pollen. At night time all flowers shut 
except those which are visited by night 
feeding moths and insects. Wind-fertilised 
flowers remain open both by day and night, 
because it is necessary for them to be ready 
to catch pollen whenever there is a breeze. 
We may now proceed to investigate some 
of the devices adopted to prevent self, and 
at the same time ensure cross, pollination. 
In the common Arum the anthers are 
situated immediately ‘above the stigmas, 
and are in the most favorable position for 
fructification, but the stigmas mature first. 
Small insects can crawl downwards. A 
little juice of a sugary nature exuded by 
the stigmas keeps them alive till the an- 
thers ripen. After these latter have ripen- 
ed..and covered the insects with pollen 
the hairs dry up and disappear, allowing 
the prisoners to make their escape, and 
carry their burden to another flower, pass- 
ing down which they come in contact with 
the stigma, there to be again imprisoned 
till its anthers become ripe and the doors 
are again opened. 
(To be Continued.) 
2BSSO 26802 
PLANTS FOR SMALL SPACE 
The following varieties are recommended 
by the “ Florists’ Exchange” :— 
Geraniums.—Beaute Poitevine, salmon 
pink ; Jean Viaud, pure pink; Frances 
Perkins, pink ; John Doyle, scarlet; and S, 
A. Nutt, crimson. 
Gannas.—Tarrytown, crimson; Mrs. Kate 
Gray, orange scarlet; Mme. Crozy dwarf, 
gilt-edged ; and Comte de Bouchard, yellow 
variegated. 
Chrysanthemums.—Yellow Eaton, yellow ; 
Timothy Eaton, white; Mrs. Henry Robin- 
son, white ; Viviand-Morel, pink; and Kate 
Broomhead, orange. 
Carnations. — Lorna, white ; Mrs. Thomas 
W. Lawson, cerise pink; G. H,. Crane, 
scarlet ; Governor Roosevelt, crimson; Mrs. 
G. M. Bradt, variegated; and Genevieve 
Lord, light pink. If novelties in Carnations 
were to be purchased, we would name—For 
crimson, President Roosevelt; scarlet, Fla- 
mingo; white, Goyernor Lowndes ; light 
pink, Alpine Glow; dark pink, Mrs. Theo- 
dore Roosevelt ; and variegated, Mrs. M. A. 
Patten. 
