: 
| mony than on observation. Thesubsequent changes that result from 
the union, the sudden stimulus given to cell multiplication, the 
rapid enlargement of the ovary, and the development and ripening 
of the ovules into seeds, are easily seen and are familiar to every one. 
However mysterious, this is the ordinary process of nature, and is in 
aceord with the elementary principles of botany. 
But in some cases things do not happen in this ordinary way, or just 
as our text-books say they should happen, and then there comes in a 
little difficulty in explaining how the results are accomplished. 
Seeing, as we constantly do, the close connection between the fertili- 
zation ot the ovule and the growth and maturation of the fruit, we 
are naturally led to the almost unconscious belief that one of these 
events is the consequence of the other, that the growth of the fruit 
is a consequence of the growth of theseed. And when we observe the 
countless cases in which the failure of the ovule is followed by the fall 
of the young fruit the unconscious belief becomes almost irresistible. 
A shower of rain washes away the pollen and our apple crop fails in 
consequence. The young fruit does not swell, but shrinks and falls. 
This happens so often and in so many plants that we cease to expect 
fruit where there is no seed. . 
Yet there are some facts that at least tend to show that the connec- 
tion between the seed and the fruit is less close than we sometimes as- 
sume. Some of these also lead us to believe that the fertilizing in- 
fluence of the pollen is not confined to the ovule. 
As the first example of these «secondary results, I will mention the 
obvious, but seldom noted, fact that the ovary can be developed and: 
matured without the presence of the seed. This apparently proves 
that the swelling of the ovary is independent of the development and 
ripening of the ovule. It may be due to the direct action of the pol- 
- len on the ovarian tissue, but even this does not seem in all cases to be: 
necessary. 
Asan illustration of this statement I will quote the Banana, which, 
as is well known, never bears any seeds atall. The fruit is solely 
the swollen and matured ovary, in which numerous abortive ovules 
may usually be seen. 3 
The St. Michael’s orange is another casein point. Though small, 
this variety is accounted the best of the many kinds cultivated in 
Kurope, as it seldom contains a single pip. It has apparently been 
introduced into this country, as I have recently seen some oranges 
that were said to have come from Florida which, by the absence of 
seeds, formed a pleasant contrast to the usual seediness of the Florida 
fruit. (This variety is now grown in Florida and California. ) 
Again, our common Persimmon is sometimes entirely seedless, 
Once in Pennsylvania I met with a whole grove of these trees in 
which a seed-bearing fruit was the exception. The garden Radish 
also will often develop its pods without any seed. Any one, too, 
who will take the trouble to examine the fruits of the common Ma- 
ple will soon learn that a large proportion of them contain no seed, 
but are simply hollow shells. | } 
The well-known Sultana raisins sold in our stores owe the esteem 
in which they are held to the total absence of seeds, and the high- 
bred European Malaga grape is found almost as often without seeds 
as with them. 
Less noticeable, but equally true and apposite, are the numerous 
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eset a REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 319 
instances, familiar-to every careful observer, of cherries, plums, and ° 
peaches whose stones contain no kernels. All these facts abundantly 
