;; MELONS, CYCAS, &C. 331 



periment is the move important, as the abb§ 

 Spallanzaiii has recorded one xnade by him- 

 self upon the same species of plant, with a 

 contrary result. But as he has said nothing 

 of the appearance of the stigmas, his expe- 

 riment mu.^t yield to that of Linnaius in 

 point of accuracy ; and even if his account 

 be otherwise correct, the result is easily ex- 

 plained. Hemp, Spinach, some Nettles, 8cc.^ 

 naturally dioecious, are occasionally not com- 

 pletely so, a few latent barren or fertile 

 flowers being frequently found amona^ those 

 of the other sort, by M'hich provision is made 

 against accidents, and the perfecting of afev? 

 seeds, at any rate, secured. 



In general, germens whose stigmas have 

 not received the pollen wither away without 

 swelling at all, but some grow to a considera- 

 ble size, and in such the substance of the 

 seed, its skin, and even its cotyledons, are 

 often to be found, the embryo only being 

 wanting. In a Melon or Cucumber it is 

 common to find, among numerous perfect 

 seeds, many mere unimpregnated husks. In 

 the magniiicent Ci/cas revohita which bore 

 fruit at the bishop of Winchester's, and of 



