32 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jawn., 1898. 
same branch, were distinguishable, he informs us, one from the other. It may 
be inferred also, from the statements of F. R. Cheshire, that what has been 
remarked as occurring with the pear also occurs in the case of the apple.* 
Similarly, there exist no grounds for concluding that the orange differs 
from other fruits—including the pear and the apple—in the benefit that 
accrues in their case generally from cross-fertilisation. If this latter is commonly 
effected by bees, this favourable result must be attributed to their habit of 
visiting the flowers; and, further, it must be recognised that these insects not 
only accomplish a useful act—z.e., pollination—but also the most serviceable 
form of those processes coming within this definition. 
To what has been already stated, of bees in their relation to the flowers 
of the orange, something further may be added regarding the falling of the 
blossoms prior to the setting of the fruit, as an event—as is apparently alleged 
—consequent on the visitation to them of these insects. In the first place, it 
would be of interest to learn to what extent this has been generally observed. 
It may, however, be remarked that personal experience would point to the fact 
that this rarely happens, and that, when it does, the two events have no such 
connection between them as that of cause and effect. 
With regard to the shedding of the fruit in its earliest condition, or, in 
other words, of the ovary—also attributed to the visitations of honey bees— 
it may be stated that in the case of the orange that this is effected by a special 
structural peculiarity, the existence of which determines the more ready 
happening of this event than would otherwise be experienced. The flower of 
this plant is, in fact, remarkable in possessing no Jess than five transverse 
articulations in connection with it,f at each of which separation of parts may 
ensue, similar in kind to that which may take place between the leat-stems of 
a deciduous tree and the branchlet from which it springs. The zone of 
separation in connection with the ovary is situated at its base, and as a result 
of its presence this part of the plant is shed more readily than it would other- 
wise be. Now, amongst those agencies that contribute to the latter result the 
following may be specified:—(1) Excess of vigour, such as often occurs in the 
case of very young trees, which, as is so often remarked, fail to set any of their 
flowers, or only a very small proportion of them; (2) temporary loss of vigour, 
such as may result from the presence of unsuitable soil conditions; (3) direct 
injury, such as may be occasioned by the occurrence of abnormally dry or cold 
winds. But failure to set fruit is also brought about by reason of the ovules of 
the ovaries not having been fecundated or fertilised. This is the principal cause 
of unprolificness on the part of the tree. Now, this lack of fecundation may 
arise from the existence of more than one defective condition of growth, but 
especially from the absence of the means for effecting it—e.g., from a failure on 
the part of insects, including bees, to visit the flowers. Wheretore it may be 
concluded, from this and the foregoing statements, that bees in so far as they 
frequent orange blossoms are beneficial to the orchardist rather than prejudicial 
to his interests. 
* Vid. F, R. Cheshire : ‘Bees and Bee-keeping,” vol. i., ‘‘Scientific,” pp. 323-4, London, 
+ ‘Nelle Auranziaceze ne troviamo una alla base dello stilo, un’altra alla base dell’ovario, 
una aie pea dei fiori, finalmente una all’apice ed una alla base del picciuolo,” O. Penzig. 
op. cit., p. 77. 
