398 MR. H. J. VEITCH ON THE 
ducting-tissue which is of a very loose consistency, and formed of 
greatly elongated cells generally overlapping at their ends. The 
narrow slit at N (fig. 2) shows the nectary that penetrates into 
the ovary, and in which honey is freely secreted ; OV is the imma- 
ture ovary, of which, for the purpose of showing the parts more 
distinctly,an enlarged transverse 
section is given in fig. 3, where it 
is plainly shown to consist of three 
divisions or lobes, from each of 
which, where they approach at 
the centre, springs a placenta., 
Each placenta at this early stage 
consists of two thickened plates 
with their edges turned towards 
each other, and almost meeting, 
and thence almost enclosing a 
quadrangular space; the rudi- 
mentary ovules, or rather the 
papille that are subsequently developed into ovules, are placed 
along the projecting angles of these plates. We shall see that 
this position of parts of the ovary is considerably modified as the 
process of fertilization goes on. Fig. 4 shows a similar enlarge- 
ment of the column in transverse section. Athough only eight 
times enlarged, it indicates sufficiently the parenchymatous tissue 
of the column and the position of the fibro-vascular bundles. 
Fig. 4. 
Fig. 3. 
We are now in a position to trace the process of fertilization 
from the time of pollination to the impregnation of the ovules. On 
the 1st of June, 1885, forty-five lowers of plants of the same age 
