CH. VI.l THE FLOWER. 197 



Thurtell, from his experiments on the pelargonium, 

 also informs me, that he has always fomid the colour 

 and spot of the petals to be more influenced by the 

 male than by the female parent. Indeed, all ex- 

 perience proves that the progeny usually, though not 

 invariably, most resembles in colour the male parent. 



3. Large stature and robustness is transmitted to 

 the offspring by either parent. It does not abso- 

 lutely matter, for obtaining this characteristic, 

 whether it be the male or female w-hich is large ; 

 but Mr. Knight generally found the most robust 

 female parent produced the finest offspring. 



4. Capt. Thurtell, from lengthened obser^-ation 

 and experiment, ha§ ascertained that the form of the 

 petals follows most closely that of the female parent. 



5. Mr. Knight says that the largest seed from the 

 finest fruit that has ripened earliest and most per- 

 fectly should always be selected. In stone fruit, if 

 two kernels are in one stone these give birth to 

 inferior plants. 



6. The time which elapses before seedlings attain 

 a bearing age is very various. The pear recjuires 

 from twelve to eighteen years; the apple, five to 

 thirteen ; plum and cherry, four to five ; \dne, three 

 to four ; raspberiy, two ; and the strawberiy one. 



7. The most successful mode of obtaining good 

 and very distinct varieties is to employ the pollen 

 from a male in a flower grown on another plant than 



