o 



456 STATi; POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



exceeded in hei.c;ht those Mliicb were self-fertilized, but in the fourth generation 

 one of the self-fertilized plants beat its crossed opponent. ''This victorious 

 self-fertilized jjlant consif^ted of a new wliitc-llowered variety, which grew taller 

 than tlio old yellowish varieties. From tlic lirst it seemed to be rather more 

 fertile, when self-fertilized, tlian the old varieties, and in the succeeding self- 

 fertilized generations became more and more self-fertile. In the sixth 

 generation the self-fertilized plants of this variety, compared with the crossed 

 plants, produced capsules in the proportion of 147 to 100, both lots being 

 allowed to fertilize themselves spontaneously." This instance appears analogous 

 to the vigorous self-fertilized morning-glory which appeared on the sixth gener- 

 ation. In the eighth self -fertilized generation some llowers of Mimulus were 

 self-fertilized; other flowers were crossed with those from distinct plants of the 

 same lot, and "others were crossed with a new stock of plants from Chelsea. 

 The Chelsea crossed seedlings were to the intercrossed in height as 100 to 56, 

 and in fertility as 100 to 4; and they were to the self-fertilized plants in height 

 as 100 to 52, and in fertility as 100 to 3. These Chelsea-crossed were also much 

 more hardy than the plants of the other two lots." This remarkable result 

 brings out witli great force the idea italicised above, that crossing a variety or 

 species with a foreign stock, often produces 



RESULTS WONDERFULLY FAVORABLE. 



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

 through the 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 

 direction in dilTerent portions of our country, and especially are experiments 

 needed in crossing with foreign stock all of our garden vegetables which store 

 up nourishment in 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 ap- 

 ples and grapes. 



In case of the 3Iimulus above mentioned the third generation of self -fertilized 

 plants were allowed to fertilize themselves spontaneously. Another lot were 

 grown beside them from crossed seeds. "The crossed plants ])roduced 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 deci- 

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

 fertilized plants," The llowers of self-fertilized plants in the experiments 

 made became more uniform than those which were crossed. This was quite 

 marked with Mimulus, Imnuea, and Diantlius. Mr. Ilenslow raises the query, 

 why is this when wild llowers are so uniform? Tiiese are certainly many times 

 abundantly crossed and often appear much alike even when growing inditlerent 

 localities quite remote from each other on a great variety of soils. 



OBSTACLES SHOW (QUALITY. 



In comparing the crossed with the self-fertilized ])lants Mr. Darwin usually 

 placed one of each at the same time on different sides of the same pot. Mr. 

 Ilenslow objects on the ground, if not crowded, the self-fertilized plants would 

 bo relatively better. In some cases, also, Mr. Darwin places two lots of plants 

 ill crowded masses in the same pot or box. In the third generation of Petunia 



