Smyrna times., 1893-10-18
The DiscoVerer of the Fructifcation
OfPlants by the Aid of Insects.

Flowers, conspicuous blossoms. dis.
tlnguished by their form and color, are
called by poets the bridal garments oi
plants. They present the most attract.
i've sights and please and delight the
eye of every man whose head and
heart are open for and susceptible OF
the beauties of nature. The flower. in
botany, is that portion of a plant were
Its organs of production are found, to-
gether with their coverings. In pop
ular language, a blossom or flower is
the fower-bud of plant, when the
petals, the colOred leaves of the former
are expanded, open petals being con-
sidered as the principal thing in con-
stituting flower.
Some plants, for instance, those pro-
ducing the different kinds of grain.
nourishing us, have very inconspicuous
blossoms, while the flowers of others
exhibit the greatest splendor of cOlors
to view and exhale the most delicious
fragrance. What is the reason of this
difference
Natual philosophy has solved the
riddle. There are certain blossoms,
which can only thus be fructified, that
insects, visiting them. transfer the pol
pollen, the formulating dust of the
anther's of the flower, to the seed.bud
OF the latter. In order to attract those
insects, the flowers develop the splen-
dor of their colors and the grateful
odor are indications to the insects that
within the flowers they may find pollen
aud nectar. Thus the insects are
caused to visit the flowers and to pro.
mote the reproduction of the plants. in
the manner stated. This fact is gener.
ally known nowadays and taught in
the common schools. Yet, though it
looks very simple aud natural, it was
discovered and made known only about
one hundred years ago.
A plain teacher in Germany investi.
gated the surrounding country of Ber-
lin, now the German capital, and that
of the neighboring city of Spandau.
searched for the flowers at their nat.
ural habitants, industriously watched
the insects and their visits paid to the
flowers, and made the observation and
discovery referred to. In the year 1898
he published his memorable book en-.
titled "The Discovered Secret of the
Construction and Fruc9ification of
Flowers" work of astonishing indus
try, that upon twenty-six tables, print
ed from copper plates, contained no
less than 1117 illustrations.
That man was Christian Konrsd
Sprengel. He was born in 1850. at
Bradenburg-on.the. Havel, the son of a
clegyman, and received a collegiate
and university education, studing both
theology and philOgy as his profession.
After he had finished his university
studies and successively been teacher
in several schools at Berlin, he, in 1880
was appointed principal of the socalled
great school" (now the gymnasium or
collegel OF Spandau. There he col.
lected the material for his book named
and finished the latter. The book ia
famous to-day, enjoying the undivided
of botanists. At the time.
however, Sprengel derived no honors
from it, His love of flowers occupied
all his spare hours and as to his nosi.
ton as teacher be did only what was
lndispensably necessary. He did. of
course, not neglect his school, but he
had long-continued difficulties with the |
clergyman, who was his superior of.
ticer.
In Germany the churches are State |
institutions aud control the public
schools of their respective denomina-
ions. such schools being sectarian. In
consequences Of those difficulties spren-
gel was retired and given an annual
pension of 100 thalers ($165). In Ger
many, like the military and navel of.
icsss, sil civil officers of the State.
of common schools included,
are appointed for life, being retired
pensioned when their services, on ac-
count of old age or for other Feasons-
crime, of course, exCeptedz-are wanted
no longer. Sprengel was retired and |
In the same year in which /
bis book named was publiahed. he |