Statistical Information Concerning the Pro= 
duction of Fruits and Seeds in 
Certain Plants. 
By Joun W. HarsuHBErGER, Pu. D. 
URING several summers as opportunity presented, the 
1) following statistical observations were made, in order 
to determine what the successful termination of the 
act of fertilization really was. Most botanists claim, that the 
association of flowers together in heads, umbels, spikes and 
other compact inflorescences with the attractive parts attached, 
renders the act of pollination more certain. The produc- 
tion of seeds is thereby insured and the perpetuation of the 
species accomplished. The regnant natural orders are those 
which include plants that have such mechanical and physio- 
logical devices as to insure the production of a large number 
of good seeds from any one plant. These facts have been 
widely accepted, and no doubt are true in the main, but there 
are facts which lead us at times to believe that in some cases 
the theories generally advanced are unsound. 
The following statistics are presented as in part a contribu- 
tion to this subject: It is to be regretted that all of the 
factors which influenced the growth of the plants in the open 
could not have been taken into account. For example, the 
weather materially influences seed production, the position of 
the plants whether growing under shade, or in the bright sun- 
light should have been taken into account, the insect visitors 
ought also to have been enumerated. Still the writer believes 
that the tables possess considerable value, even as a mere 
enumeration of the ratio of perfect to abortive seeds produced. 
Arisema triphyllum, Torr. (Indian Turnip).—The racemose 
Ico 
