I02 REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



Styled plants to pollen from long-styled, and of short-styled to short- 

 styled. Before proceeding, however, it was thought advisable to ascertain 

 whether this sterility was an infallible rule. Previous to the opening of 

 the first blossom, all plants were securely bagged against stray insects 

 or flying pollen, and in every case possible blossoms were castrated before 

 anthers opened, with the exception of such as were to be used for pollinat- 

 ing purposes. 



In this manner 22 long-styled plants were operated upon, pollinated 

 in each case with its own or, in a few cases, with pollen from another 

 long-styled plant. Of this number (ranging from i to 30 blossoms each), 

 12 plants set seed, varying in number from i to 5 each and in degrees of 

 maturity to which the seed attained. In all 218 long-styled blossoms 

 were self-pollinated, and 21 of these produced seed; 17 short-styled plants 

 were similarly operated upon, and 7 of these set seed in numbers ranging 

 from I to 13. Of the 73 short-styled blossoms self-pollinated, 12 came to 

 seed. All seeds so produced were planted in sterilized soil, and, with the 

 exception of a small percentage which sprouted before planting, all grew. 

 The experiment will be repeated on a much larger scale this autumn 

 in order to have larger numbers from which to obtain percentages of suc- 

 cessful self-pollinations ; to obtain seed of self-pollinated material to plant 

 for study of inheritance; to experiment with possible parthenogenetic 

 development, and, primarily, to obtain material for the study of the 

 histological problems in connection with these experiments. 



The attempt to hybridize the two species of Gastroidea cyanea and 

 polygoni reported upon last year was repeated this spring. No off- 

 spring were produced, although hundreds of supposed hybrid eggs were 

 obtained which developed quite normally for about three-fourths of the 

 incubation period. Upon examination of eggs of virgin females, how- 

 ever, they were found to have developed parthenogenetically in the same 

 manner, a number showing eyes, body segments, and appendages quite 

 distinctly. Material has been fixed for the cytological problems in con- 

 nection with this experiment. 



A study of the cytological phenomena to be observed in connection 

 with the sterility of certain selected insects has not yet progressed suffi- 

 ciently to report upon. 



REPORT OF MR. ROSWELL H. JOHNSON. 

 The past year has shown that it is possible to provide lady-beetles with 

 their food (plant-lice) and to breed them the year around. The necessary 

 experience has been acquired concerning the best species of plant-lice 

 to raise indoors and in the garden, and the hosts, seasons, and availability 

 of those found wild. The death rate of the lady-beetles in confinement 

 has been rather high, the progeny were sometimes sterile, and egg-laying 

 has been interrupted at times. These adverse conditions will be some- 



