Barre evening enterprise. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-1898, 1898-05-09
CANNY INSECT WORKERS.
They Fertilize Flowers For Strictly Utili-
tartan Reasons.

tartan Reasons.
A correspondent writes: "The theory
OF the origin of flowers by the selection
OF insects is one which has attracted
much attention both in scientific cir
clcs and from the general public. Set
forth by Darwin in the Origin of Spe.
cies' it has leen largely developed in a
series OF interesting publications by Sir
John Lubbock and Mr. Grant Allen.
some fresh and inter( sting light has
now been thrown on it by series of
experiments recently carried out BY
Professor Plateau Of the University of
Client. Professor Plateau has arrived at
the conclusion that insects are indiffer.
ent TO TIE solors sbf the flowers they
visit, and that they are guided to them
IN very subordinate way Ly sight,
The experiments on which the Belgian
professor bases his farreaching conclu-
SONS are briefly these: Having covered |
the brightly colored flowers of single
oahllas in his garden with bits of green
zeal, he found that they were still visit.
eo ty insects. This seemed so much at
variance with the generally received
view that insects are attracted to flow
els chiefly by their color that Professor
rlateau instituted prolonged series of
experiments and observations to put the
matter still further to the proof. The
result has been to confirm and strength.
en- me conclusions drawn from the first
experiments. Cutting off the brightly
colored corollas of such flowers as 10.
pella, evening primrose foxglove, etc..
ne found the remaining green parts
We're still visited. Again there are some
brightly colored flowers which are sci.
uom or never visited by insects owing
60 their lack of honey. Notable among
these Is the scarlet geranium of our gar.
aen. But when little honey was placed
IN goranium flowers bees came to them e
~ once, those blossoms which had not II
'ecelved honey being passed over. o
Other conspicuous flowers were tried n
Il similar way with like results The lf
Experiment. OF removing the honey bear. az
hg parts OF flower and leaving the al
rightly colored part, which was SUD. b;
osen TO be attractive, was also tried Sc
'lth the single dahlia Its inner f1orets ii
ERE removed, leaving the conspicuous of
utter ones, piece of yellow leaf being ha
laced III the center. No insects went no
these honeyless flowers. But as soon ST.
drop of nectar was placed on them on
icy visited them as freely as before. wi
gam, Professor Plateau made artificial ais
'wers with pieces Of green leaf, each boz
rnlshed with little honey. These the
ere freely visited hy insects. But arti- he.
1al nowels made Of colored material ria
ere neglected, even when supplied en-
tn honey. Pile
In further support of his views Pro. gift
sor Plateau is able to bring forward bin
following facts as to the habits Of He1
ects IN visiting flowers: They will ing
IS freely and with apparent indiffer- clu
70 from one color to another nj va. Aft
lles or the same species growing to. NAL
her IN our gardens; they visit great delI
hDer OF green and greonish colored
'ers; there are many small and in.
splcuous flowers which are also free. d
'lslted. Such is brief outline of Nat
lessor Plateau's observations and nx. ton
mehts, from which he believes him. ever
Justified in drawing the conclusion man
sight plays very subordinate part in
tracing insects to flowers. Their of tn
ing Oh the theory of the insect origin was
overs Is obvious. '-.London Times. the J
tho (