Becoming a Beekeeper - Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - page 10

Cultivar: a cultivated variety of plants of the same species given a unique
name and bred for their desirable characteristics.
Variety: A variation of a species.
Self-pollination : The transfer of pollen from the male part of one flower to
the female part of the same flower or other flowers on the same plant. Also
called “perfect flowers.”
Cross-pollination :Thetransferofpollenfromthemalepartoftheflowerto
the female part of the flower of a different cultivar.
Pollinator : Agents such as bees, moths, butterflies, other insects, the wind,
and humans that physically transfer pollen from the anther to the stigma of a
flower.
Pollinizer : A plant that is a source of pollen.
Crops that have not been properly pollinated are disfigured and underdeveloped.
They taste as unappetizing as they look. A perfectly pollinated cucumber will grow
straight and well rounded; if it is not fully pollinated, it will be lopsided and will curl.
Cantaloupes that are firm, heavy, and juicy have been properly pollinated, as have
apples that are large and able to stand up straight without tipping. The seeds of a wa-
termelon tell us a lot about pollination. The black seeds were pollinated, but the white
seeds were not. The more black seeds, the sweeter the watermelon will be. It takes
pollinated seeds to produce the hormones that cause fruits and vegetables to ripen and
tastegood.Poorlypollinatedcropswillspoilquicklyandoftencausedigestivetroubles.
Many discerning shop and restaurant owners won't accept underdeveloped produce be-
cause they know consumers will reject it.
Environmentally conscious beekeeping is a completely sustainable agricultural en-
terprise. Honeybees support sustainability through pollination by assisting the natural
life cycle of plants, which replenishes the rich variety of flora and fauna in a given
geographic region, while at the same time supporting wildlife. Meanwhile, the honey
the bees make provides a natural edible product that does not harm the environment,
creates no waste, and maintains the ecosystem. Honey production can be a sign of the
healthy biodiversity of a geographic area. Large numbers of healthy plants indicate a
sustainable environment. Choosing to eat honey from your local geographic region is a
sustainable choice. By eating local honey, you are not only supporting your local bee-
keepers but also helping agriculture and small businesses stay afloat.