40 FERTILIZATION OF THE FLOWERS, 



through the pales lying in their original position, and if the 

 flower is then ojjened and inspected, it will be found that the 

 anthers are still unopened, and still retain their bright yellow 

 color. But if, on looking through the semi-transparent pales, 

 the anthers are seen in the upper part of the cup, fertilization 

 has taken place, and if the floret is opened the anthers will be 

 found open, with the pollen scattered about on the feathers and 

 inner surfaces of the pales, and the bright color of the anthers 

 passing away. The inner pale in this form of barley is so tightly 

 embraced by the overlapping edges of the outer pale as prevents 

 further opening. 



The different varieties of wheat, so far as known to the writer, 

 observe conditions of opening the flower similar to those of 

 the barleys. Many wheat florets never ojDen so far as to give 

 room for the egress of the anthers. Some open so far as to allow 

 one or more anthers to get half out, in Avhich position they are 

 caught and held by the reclosing of the pales. In many the 

 anthers are wholly retained, but the general rule is for the floret 

 to open so far as to throw out the anthers. 



Oj)ening of the cereal flowers takes place at all hours of the 

 day. I have observed that it also takes place in all kinds of 

 weather, wet or dry. I have observed that spelt flowers open in 

 the morning before the sun touched them. I have also seen 

 them open in a dead calm after sunset ; many of them had 

 opened and closed within an hour previously. I have likewise 

 seen wheat and spelt flowers open during heavy rain, and in dull, 

 cloudy weather. Fertilization seems to take place when the 

 flower is ripe, independently of any particular state of the 

 weather. In respect of all florets which do not open so far as to 

 eject their anthers, the falling of rain or the blowing of the 

 strongest wind is perhaps a matter of indifference. The opening 

 of the flowers may be induced by handling the ear in a gentle 

 way when the natural time of flowering has nearly arrived. I 



