434 



eonfined by a close-fittiug sac, formed of the two luucr petals of the flower, lu other 

 cases the fertilizing organs are contained and kept in contact in long tubes, where 

 access of foreign pollen is apparently excluded. Indeed, in some flowers where the 

 stamens and pistils are exposetl to the air, nature apparently furnishes special pro- 

 vision for self-fertilization, as in the Kalmia, where the anthers are contained in little 

 sacs or pouches of the coi'olla until the pollen is mature, when by an elastic spring 

 of the filament the anthers are liberated and thrown toward the pistil and the pollen 

 difiused upon it. In some i^lants of the nettle family the filaments are folded spirally 

 nntil the sepals expand, when they rise with elastic force and scatter the pollen. In 

 these and other cases which might be mentioned, although cross-fertilization is not 

 absolutely excluded, yet the provision seems to be specially designed for self-fer- 

 tilization. 



On this subject we may quote a remark of Profes.sor Heiifrey, iu his 

 admirable " Elementary Course of Botauy :" 



Though cross-fertilization is very general, yet there are some cases where every 

 adaptation seems to be made with the view of securing self-fertilization, as iu the fol- 

 lowing case : In Dombeya the sterile stamens are longer than the fertile ones, and are 

 endowed with a iiower of movement iu virtue of which they curve downward aud 

 outward, so as to come in contact with the fertile stamens whose anthers open out- 

 wardly. In this manner the sterile stamens become dusted with pollen, and then 

 become uncoiled and assume an erect position, so as to come in contact with the 

 stigma, whose curling lobes twist round them and receive the pollen from them. 



Other instances are well known to botanists where fertilization takes 

 place in the bud before the expansion of the flower, in which cases self 

 or close fertilization only is possible. 



By my direction Dr. Vasey, with the aid of Professor Taylor, of this 

 Department, made a dissection aud microscopic examination of two and 

 twenty flowers of wheat in different stages as they approached maturitj'. 

 Watching the progress of this examination, because I deemed the sub- 

 ject as interesting as it is important, I am strongly impressed with the 

 belief that wheat is a result of close fertilization, and that cross-breed- 

 ing in this plant never occurs but by artificial means. 



The impression is so universal, that by sowing different kinds of 

 Avheat together they will cross-breed, aud thus partake of the character 

 of each parent, that the hypothesis should be further investigated, and 

 the truth established bv conclusive authoritv. 



SYSTEMATIC CROP REPORTS. 



There has frequently been expressed, in commercial papers and in in- 

 dustrial addresses, a vague desire for " systematic crop reports," with- 

 out the slightest indication of what that system shall be, or wherein it 

 should differ from that alrepdy inaugurated by this Department. There 

 has been much of "glittering generality," but absolutely nothing of 

 practical suggestion to aid in establishing a better system. There has 

 sometimes appeared a querulous dissatisfaction with present means of 

 information, but never a spark of originality in furnishing superior facil- 

 ities. 



Xews editors sometimes claim that the newspapers are the best sources 

 of knowledge concerning the crops. What are the sources of newspaj)er 

 information ? A glance at green fields through car- windows, in inter- 

 vals of deep cuts aud subterranean passages; a casual inquiry at rail- 

 way-stations of a farmer, the extent of whose observation aud judgment 

 is unknown; local correspondence, not unfrequently the diseased fancy 

 of a croaker, and sometimes the estimate of true observation and fair 



