Pollination

All plants need to be pollinated, this is defined as the transference of pollen from an organ in which it is formed onto a receptive surface through which it can grow to effect fertilization. Fertilization being the joining of two sex cells (gametes) to give a zygote, which develops into a new plant, a process essential in all sexual production.There are three ways in which pollination can be effected.

1. Hydrophily:- The pollination by water currents.

2. Anemophily :- The pollination by the wind currents. These plants
produce large amounts of pollen; whether or not the pollen arrives on
the stigma depends on the vagaries of the wind.

3. Entomophily :- The pollination with pollen carried by inscects.
Many aspects of entomophilous flowwers may attract insects to them
e.g. colour, scent from glandular cells and nectar etc.

Wild and solitary bees are not in sufficient numbers to pollinate adequately. With honey bees there is an abundance of foraging bees,also they can be taken to a crop ie. oil seed rape, fruit and legumes etc.There is an added advantage being in such numbers, as they can be put in place
when the weather is marginal and plants and trees can only be pollinated within a specific time period (such as pear trees early in the year).
Bees will confine themselves to one crop, thus if an orchard is to be pollinated ,the bees once started on it will finish it rather than foraging willy-nilly. This attachment to a particular crop prevents the useless carrying of pollen to other species. Also it is a help to seed growers in keeping their seed pure.
They will even concentrate on a particular stretch of forage. Areas as small as 2 square yards have been observed, though normally the areas are larger. These small areas are worked when there is a profusion of flowers in one area. If the forage is spread over an area then of course the foraging range of bees is extended. One other important thing is whereas other insects only visit flowers for food as and when they need it, the bees have an insatiable drive to visit forage because they need to store food for the coming winter.

And then pell-mell his harvest follows swift
Blossom and Borage, lime and balm and clover
On downs the thyme, on cliffs the scantling thrift
Everywhere the bees go racing with the hours
For every bee becomes a drunken lover
Standing upon his head to sup the flowers
The Land (V.Sackville West)