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NATURAL CROSS-FERTILIZATION IN INDIA, 



Seventy-six single plants raised from one sample of local seed 

 were sown in 1909 and out of these only two have bred true in all 

 respects. In this crop, therefore, we have to deal with a plant 

 which normally crosses and the point to determine is not how 

 much crossing, but how frequently self-pollination takes place. 



Splitting took place in many directions, namely, in the colour 

 of the flowers, in the habit of the plants, whether tall or spread- 

 ing, in the felting or smoothness of the heads, and in the character 

 of the leaves and bracts. (Plate XII.) 



The colour of the flowers may be yellow, or various shades of 

 orange turning into red when the flowers wither. Yellow flowers 

 when fading give a dirty yellow colour. As an example of spht- 

 ting in flower colour the progeny of two yellow and 2 orange 

 flowered plants selected in 1908 may be given. (Plate XIII.) 



Nine other plants split into orange and light orange flowered 

 plants. 



As regards the felting of the buds nine cases of splitting 

 occurred and 12 good examples of splitting according to the erect 

 or spreading habit were noted. Splitting also took place accord- 

 ing to the character of the leaves (spiny or spineless), bracts and 

 as regards time of maturity (early and late). Taking into con- 

 sideration all these points only two cultures bred true. 



