CUCUMBER CROSSES. 199 
or more pollen grains), but the shape of the fruit is not 
necessarily influenced. And yet there are instances in 
which pollination appears to make the fruit unshapely, 
but why it should exert this influence at some times and 
not at others I am unable at present to state. It ap- 
pears to be often a_ peculiarity or variation of  indi- 
vidual plants. There were two plants in our house one 
winter which invariably produced deformed fruits when 
pollen was used, although fruits on other plants along- 
side were not influenced by pollen. Upon these suscepti- 
ble individuals we found that the pollinated fruits would 
grow to uniform thickness if they were swung or tied up, 
as recommended on page 189. It is probable that much 
of the irregularity in shape is but an expression of plant 
variation, rather than a result of particular treatment. It 
is an interesting fact in the variation of plants under 
domestication that the long English cucumber cannot 
produce seed in its lower half, although ovules are 
usually present. It is probable that the fruit has been 
developed to such a length that the pollen-tubes cannot 
reach the remote ovules. 
Crosses.— The English forcing cucumbers cannot be 
successfully grown in the field, but they possess some 
points of merit for a field cucumber, as smoothness and 
cvlindricity, length, and great vigor of vine. We there- 
fore attempted some crosses in the winter of 1889-90 be- 
tween the Sion House and Medium Green, hoping to 
produce a superior sort for outdoor use. Our results 
have been exceedingly interesting from a scientific point 
of view, although we have not yet procured the cucum- 
ber which we sought. Fruits of unusual promise have 
been obtained, but they have not produced good seeds. 
Some of the mongrel fruits developed a peculiar weak- 
ness in the tendency of the placentz or cell walls to de- 
cay. The seeds did not mature, and the soft, pulpy tis- 
sue about them solidified. Near the apex of the fruit the 
placente tended to break away from the body, and in 
