A paper entitled "Some Conclusions," by Max Leichtlin, of Baden-Baden, Austria, 

 was read by Secretary Barron. 



SOME CONCLUSIONS 



By Max Leichtlin, Baden-Baden. 



First of all, a suitable time is necessary to have plants rcadj' to take seed ; 

 a comparatively warm day, after a rain, with no sunshine, is best for about 

 six-tenths of all plants ; some others want a very dry atmosphere, according 

 to the climate of their native country. No fertilization should be attempted 

 before the stigma is ripe, a condition which after some practice is easily 

 recognized. 



The pollen to use should be looked at with the magnifying glass, and 

 must be chosen neither too fresh nor overripe. 



After fertilization it is in many cases well to put a hand glass over the 

 flower to give it for a day or two a higher temperature than that of the 

 surrounding air. 



Pollen if gathered in good condition can be kept in small glass vessels, 

 corked well, for several days without losing its fertilizing power. Some 

 genera are shy seed bearers ; for instance, Carygophyllaceas, because the pollen 

 of the flower is ripe long before the stigma is developed. 



As a rule, in eight cases out of ten the female parent has the greatest 

 influence on the form of the offspring; the male gives color. In the majority 

 of cases the offsprings have larger flowers than either parent. 



Nature in its eternal providence has put, moreover, an end to endless 

 encroachment of man by the production of hybrids which are and remain 

 infertile. Hybrids often become infertile, and if recrossed the offspring 

 moKtly become so. Whether fertilization is possible or not can be ascertained 

 at once by regarding the form of the pollen grains under the microscope. If 

 their forms are nearly alike, it will do; if the form is very different, no 

 fertilization is possible. 



The Chair: This brief paper of Ma.x Leichtlin raises a question that has not before 

 been referred to, and that is, how long will pollen retain its vitality? When I make any 

 remarks I beg to say that I make no pretension to scientific exactness; but I would say 

 that it would appear that this vitality can be preserved for several days by keeping it 

 under a glass, which is quite contrary, 1 think, to ordinary experience. To illus- 

 trate: In growing vegetables in a greenhouse for family use, we find it necessary 

 sometimes to have artificial fertilization, and for that purpose it has been my i)ractice 

 for many years just at this time of the year, before the first frost comes, to have a 

 quantity of pollen gathered from the plants out of doors, plants growing in the open. 

 This, put in an ordinary box or vessel of any sort, retains its vitality for at least six 

 months. That is to say, all through the winter and as late as March, I have fertilized 



