144 > DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



thick lower portion, and ripening tardily with almost no color. I cannot 

 ascribe this peculiar variation to the influence of the Howell pollen, as it was- 

 in an entirely opposite direction, it seemed to me, from what should be 

 expected from the shape of the Howell itself. The lateness and greenness of 

 the fruit suggested imperfect fertilization. 



Many hybridizations were made between Datura Stramonium and D. 

 inermis. The former of these, as all are aware, has very thorny fruits — the 

 ordinary Jamestown or ''Jimson" weed — while the latter has entirely 

 smooth fruits or pods. As most of the operations were performed during 

 our protracted drouth, they were unsuccessful. The later operations were 

 more successful, and seven fruits matured, or so nearly matured before 

 killed by frost that their character was assured. There is not the least evi- 

 dence of immediate effect of pollen in any of them. The daturas cannot be 

 used with fairness, however, for the determination of the vexed question of 

 the immediate influence of pollen, from the fact that the character of the 

 surface of the ovary is determined before fertilization takes place. 



Many crosses and hybridizations were attempted with the cucurbits, but, 

 owing to the dry weather, few succeeded. The ovary often swelled for a 

 day or two, then remained stationary for a couple of days, and then withered, 

 showing that fertilization had not taken place. Only four fruits were fertil- 

 ized. These were yellow crook-neck squshes crossed with the white scallop. 

 Although the two parents are so extremely unlike, the crossed fruits differed 

 in no particular from ordinary crook-necks. Several attempts were made ta 

 cross the white scallop with the crook-neck, at the time that the opposite 

 crosses were made, but without success. It is obvious that cucurbits as a 

 rule, if, indeed, under any circumstances, do not exhibit any immediate 

 effects of pollen, for the fruits which are evidently crosses, in any patch, are 

 always found to be borne upon a vine which bears exactly the same fruits 

 throughout. This circumstance proves that the variation is an outgrowth 

 of the character of the original seed which impresses its nature upon all the 

 fruits which spring from it. If squashes show the immediate influence of 

 pollen we should certainly find fruits of varying character upon the same 

 vine. Abnormal fruits which are intermingled with others throughout the 

 patch need only to be carefully traced to their support in order that their 

 origin may be determined. 



4. Which flower in the cluster makes the apple? — Apple flowers 

 are borne in clusters, yet the apples are usually borne singly. As a rule, all 

 the flowers but one must fail. If one is to perform crossing or hybridizing 

 it is important that he know which flower to operate upon. With a view of 

 determining this flower I made a few observations last spring. In general, 

 the central flower was the strongest and made the fruit, yet in many cases the 

 central flower was the weakest. In eight clusters of Fameuse flowers, the 

 central flower, which was in these instances the largest in the cluster, was 

 removed. One cluster alone failed to set fruit. Of the remaining seven, 

 four clusters set two fruits each and three clusters set one fruit each. Upon 

 the same tree two clusters were marked in which the central flower was very 

 small and late. Each cluster set one fruit, the central flower not developing. 

 I conclude from a general observation that any well- developed flower in the 

 cluster may set fruit, the central flower having the preference. In making 

 crosses I remove all the flowers but one, the best one, and thereby insure 

 success. 



