On the Inheritance of Acquired Characters. 139 



experiments, therefore, only the mean characters of (hf- 

 ferent beds may be compared. In doing so, we find as 

 a general rule that good soil, heavy manuring, a sunny 

 position, evenly distributed moisture and, al)ove all, plenty 

 of room between the plants, tend to increase the numl)er 

 of carpels per flower; whilst sandy soil, shade, cold. 



Fig. 28. Papaver somniferiim polycephalum, with 

 slight mukipHcation of carpels, i with rudimen- 

 tary carpels ; 2-4 with i, 2 or a few such ; 5, 6 and 

 7, various stages in the fusion of the lateral fruits 

 which in 7 have fused to a split wreath round the 

 central capsule (which has been removed). 8, 

 stigma of the central fruit seen from above. 



drought and crowding of the plants decrease the number 

 to a very considerable extent ; indeed the strongest plants 

 bear a full "crown," the feeblest scarcely any trace of tlie 

 monstrosity. 



In the process of looking for the best plants for ex- 

 periment I soon noticed that the individual strength of 



