56 VARIETAL CHARACTERS OF INDIAN WHEATS. 
A suitable number of heads of wheat were selected in a field 
crop, and the immature anthers were carefully removed from about 
half a dozen florets on each head, the remaining florets being left 
intact. The ovules in the florets from which the anthers had been 
removed had thus every opportunity to become fertilised by pollen 
either from the surrounding florets left intact upon the same heads 
or by pollen from outside sources. Not one single embryo was 
developed in the florets thus treated. This was considered sufficient 
evidence to justify the belief that natural cross-fertilisation did 
not exist.’’ 
Biffen’ who grew over 200 varieties of wheat at Cambridge in 
England, says they are autogamous with rare exceptions, and he 
states ‘‘ I have never met with a case of natural cross-fertilisation. ’’ 
Darwin in Animals and Plants under Domestication states : 
‘* With respect to the natural crossing of distinct varieties, the 
evidence is conflicting, but preponderates against its frequent 
occurrence.’ 
These observations, it will be observed, refer to comparatively 
damp climates, and itis no doubt true that in England natural cross- 
ing in wheats is exceedingly rare. We have so far only found three 
cases in the records, the first of which is quoted in the Jowrnal of 
the Board of Agriculture of November 1905 :—‘* It is an extremely 
rare thing to find a single case of natural cross-fertilisation. The 
possibility of such an operation being caused by bees is so 
extremely remote that it can be said to have no existence. 
Because of its rarity it may be well to put on record that in the 
course of the Committee’s work one case or perhaps two have been 
met with.” A farmer, Mr. R. Cook, of Box near Bath, planted 
in 1902 a field with a mixture of Square-head’s Master and Essex 
rough chaff—two sorts of wheat which from the breeder’s point 
of view possess marked differences. When the crop matured, he 
came across a plant with nine ears of particularly robust growth. 
2 The Committee referred to is the Home-grown Wheat Committee in England who for 
some years past have been working to improve the milling qualities of English wheats, 
