The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-02-07

the elementary 10SC1uCCS Ol 1cdI duu
of self preservation. 1t was in fact
very strikingly like the pigeon from
which Flourens had taken the cerebral
hemispheres-a mere autOmatOn
Some workers, after brain injury
show an imbecile rage, throwing
themselves alike on friend or foe, and
striving to destroy them.-Scribner's
Monthly.
CURIOUS PRocLIWTiEs OF INSECTS.
This strange distinction between
beautiful and hideous plants was
curiously illustrated by Sir John
Lubbock, during recent address at
Brighton. We find an abstract in the
London Telegraph. Bees, it seems,
are fond of pleasant odors and bright
colors, and affect plants in which we
ourselves take pleasure. If a bee is
watched in its progress through a
garden, it will be found lowering over
mignonette, the roses, the tall white
lilies, the lavender, and all other
flowers of brigh: color or sweet scent.
Flies, on the other hand, prefer livid
yellow, dingy red, and very unpleas-
ant smelling plants. The bee is a
fastidious insect of sensitive tastes.
The fly is species of insectoid vul-
ture. with natural proclivity for
carrion, or anything resembling it.
Any one who takes couple of plants
and places them on the lawn, a yard
apart, putting on one specimen of
the abominable underground fugus,
the ''StinkhOrn,' and on the other Il
glass of moss roses, will see that in a
few minutes the foul-Odored fungus
will be covered with flies, while the
bees will flock to the roses. 1t is to
this love Of bees for beautiful colors
and pleasant smells that we owe our
choicest flowers. Flowers. as Sir John
Lubbock pointed out at some length,
and as is now generally known, are
principally fortified by insects. The
bee flying from flower to flower car
ries the golden grain from the anthers
of one to deposit it on the pistil of the
next. Crossing in flowers tends, as in
all other living Things, to improve the
size. strength. and beauty of the
fertilized'' by insects reach the high
est state # excellence. Self-fertiliZa-
ton. according to Sir John Lubbock,
tends to dwarf the specimens. Indeed
in the case Of convolvulus, it has
been shown by actual experiment
that when self-fertilized it only grows
to height of five feet, while when
it will reach seven
feet and a half. So far. bees and flies
perform the same work, the differ
ence between them being that the
bees, as we have said, love beautiful
colOIs and fragrant odors. More than
this each bee appears to have its
proclivities, or at any rate, it's habits.
Sir John Lubbock himself taught bee
to go to a certain place for honey on
blue paper for some days consecutive
ly. After his winged pupil had paid
several visits to the blue paper. some
honey was placed OH a piece of orange
colored substance. The little insect
was at first in doubt, but after hesita-
ton of Il few seconds, it rejected the
jaundice-lined repast, and dashed at
the blue paper. From these tastes
and fancies on the part Of bees, it has
in the course of long years come about
that the plants which bloom by day
have bright colors and sweet smell.
Similarly night plants, although as a
rule colorless. are yet often powerfully
scented, the reason being that they
are fertiliZed by nocturnal moths.
which have a sense of odor fully as
delicate as that of bees. and like bees
are found of honey.
Sir John Lubbock's researches lead
him TO the conclusion that these
causes have been through countless
ages acting and reacting upon one
another. The most lovely flowers
have attracted bees. and consequently
the finest blossoms Of the year have
been cross-fertilized each by the other.
Thus. for century after century.
flowers have been growing more and
more beautiful: while, strangely
enough. similar process has been
going on in the case of those plants
which are affected by flies. and their
unwholesome and disagreeable quali-
ties have become intensified. When
we consider the law hereby indicated
We gather from it practical rule. of
which the skilled gardener ought to
hii I'UluiBE- HAVE
passed since the blind bard of Hellas
assured rs that .-such As is the race Of
blossoms. such is that Of men,
Blossoms there are which the wind
losses 10 the ground. but others. again.
the wide wood bears when the season
OF spring comes on. The practical
distinction between flowers and our.
selves is that, while the years Of man
are threscore and ten. the blossom. as
rule. has life Of year only. and
that in twelve years, by artificial
selection. you can effect for a plant
that which natural selection in the
case Of man may possibly accomplish
in score Of centuries. In our gardens
Sir John Lubbock's friends the bees
do their work admirably. But in
hothonses. where bees do not pene-
trate. everything is due to the skill
and care Of the gardener. who must
exercise a juGicious choice on his own
account. Nothing IL more remarkable
than the results which could he effec-
ted in Horticulture By those who have
time and attention TO bestow u.on it.
There is no better instance than that
of the calce0laria. The ordinary