192 Mr. Knight's Remarks on the supposed Influence 



seed-coats, are visible some time before the blossoms acquire 

 their full growth ; and the existence of these organs is there- 

 fore obviously independent of the influence of the pollen upon 

 the growth of the internal and essential parts of the future 

 seeds. The seed-coats also, and the fruit of some species of 

 plants, acquire nearly, if not wholly, then- perfect growth 

 when the pollen has been entirely withheld, or when, from 

 other causes, it has not operated; and from these circum- 

 stances, and other observations, it has been inferred, that 

 neither the external cover of the seeds, nor the form, taste, or 

 flavour of fruits, are affected by the influence of the pollen 

 of a plant of a different variety or species. There exists, 

 however, some difference of opinion upon these points ; and 

 the experiments of Mr. Goss upon the Pea, of which an ac- 

 count is given in a paper recently printed in the Transactions 

 of the Horticultural Society *, appear strongly to countenance 

 the opinion, that the colour of the seed-coats at least may be 

 changed by the influence of the pollen of a variety of a differ- 

 ent character ; and hence he infers, with apparent reason, the 

 probability that the taste and flavour of fruits may be also 

 affected. 



The narrative of Mr. Goss is unquestionably quite correct ; 

 but I believe that there is an error in the inference which he 

 has drawn ; and I am anxious that such error, if it exist, 

 should be pointed out ; because it may occasion many experi- 

 ments to be made to prove that which I conceive to have 

 been already sufficiently proved ; and, consequently, cause the 

 useless expenditure of time and labour, which might be ad- 

 vantageously employed in similar investigations upon other 

 plants in the wide and unexplored field which lies open to the 

 experimental horticulturist. 



The numerous varieties of strictly permanent habits of 

 the Pea, its annual life, and the distinct character in form, 

 size, and colour of many of its varieties, induced me, many 

 years ago, to select it for the purpose of ascertaining, by a 

 long course of experiments, the effects of introducing the 

 pollen of one variety into the prepared blossoms of another. 

 My chief object in these experiments was to obtain such in- 

 formation as would enable me to calculate the probable effects 

 of similar operations upon other species of plants ; and I be- 

 lieve it would not be easy to suggest an experiment of cross- 

 breeding upon this plant, of which I have not seen the result, 

 through many successive generations. I shall therefore pro- 

 ceed to give a concise account of some of these experiments, 



* See Horticultural Transactions, vol. v. page 234, Part IV. 



