452 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



for tcu generations, using tlie same number of plants from crossed plants as 

 from those self-fertilized. Tlie average in lieighc for ten years is as 100 to 77 

 in favor of the crossing. 



The flowers of this plant are freely crossed if left to themselves, exposed to 

 insects. It is then, altogether likely that the seeds with -which Mr. Darwin 

 began were from crossed flowers, yet in tlie first generation, the seeds of crossed 

 plants exceeded those self-fertilized as 100 exceeds 7G. If we compare the 

 number of seeds and capsules produced in the first generation, the crossed 

 plants exceeded the others as 100 exceeds G4. The relative superiority of the 

 crossed plants is chiefly due to their producing a much greater number of 

 capsules, and not to each capsule containing a larger average number of seeds. 

 When self-fertilized for nine generations, the flowers were of a uniform tint, as 

 those of a wild species, while those in the beginning were of various colors. 

 The crosses, so far mentioned of the flowers of Morning Glory, refer to crosses 

 of different plants raised in the same garden, year after year. After nine gen- 

 erations he introduced seeds raised at a distance, under different circumstances. 

 Plants from these were crossed with plants which had been intercrossed in his 

 garden. This cross (called the Cochester-crossed) exceeds in height the other 

 intercrossed plants of the tenth generation, as 100 exceeds 78. In numbers of 

 capsules, they were to each other as 100 to 75, and the capsules, in weight, as 

 100 to 51, in favor of those crossed with foreign stocks. Here we get a most 

 important fact, not learned by Mr. Knight, or any one else, that a cross from 

 a fresh stock increases the size of plants and its fruitfulness, probably owing 

 to their differing somewhat in constitution or character. The crossing oj 

 closely related j^lcints is generally an imjjrovement over self-fertilization; but 

 crossing with foreign stocks of the same variety is a far greater improvement. 

 The proof of the truth of the sentence in italics is worth untold sums to the 

 raiser of vegetables, the florist, the pomologist, to the general farmer. 



RESULTS WONDEEFULLY FAVORABLE. 



This is the great leading point conclusively proved by experiments cited all 

 through tlie book. It towers above all others in such a way that it cannot be 

 easily overlooked. There is need of many other experiments in the same direc- 

 tion in different portions ef our country, and especially are experiments needed 

 in crossing with foreign stocks all of our garden vegetables which store up nour- 

 ishment in the roots, as beets, turnips, salsify, carrots, parsnips, radishes, and 

 the like. Here is a new field not yet worked, and one well worth a good trial. 

 In case of trees and shrubs, and other plants, too, it is an easy matter to have 

 pollen sent by mail from a distance. The writer is trying this with apples and 

 grapes. In case of the Mimulus, the tliird generations of self -fertilized plants 

 were allowed to fertilize themselves spontaneously. Another lot were grown 

 beside them from crossed seeds. "The crossed plants produced a large number 

 of capsules, whilst the self-fertilized produced very few and poor ones." The 

 seeds in the crossed capsules excelled those self-fertilized as 100 exceeds 34. 

 Experiments were made with these two lots of seeds, showing **in a decisive 

 manner the superiority in constitutional vigor of the crossed over the self-fer- 

 tilized })lants." The flowers of self-fertilized plants in the experiments made 

 became more uniform than those which were crossed. 



OBSTACLES SHOW QUALITY. 



In comparing the crossed with the self-fertilized plants, Mr. Darwin usually 

 placed one of each at the same time on difl'erent sides of the same pot. In 



