In his famous book, *On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection*, Charles Darwin reported on some experiments he had done which revealed that bees were crucial to the pollination of red clover. He concluded, ‘I have very little doubt, that if the whole genus of humble-bees became extinct or very rare in England, the heartsease and red clover would become very rare or wholly disappear.’ Soon after the book was published, he discovered that red clover could be pollinated by insects other than the bee. He wrote to a neighbour, ‘I beg a million pardons. Abuse me to any degree but forgive me – it is all an illusion (but almost excusable) about the Bees. I do so hope that you have not wasted anytime for my stupid blunder. I hate myself, I hate clover and I hate bees.’ --- Source: [[Cornerstones]]