TrifoUiuii Incarnatuni Ouadvifoliuin. 



241 



is true of the intcniicdiate seeds with the exception of 

 four, two of which were a1)normal. 11 normal plantlets 

 developed from the smallest seeds in the same time; the 

 9 other normal and the 25 abnormal ones did not unfold 

 their first leaf until the third week.^ 



These facts show further that the number of seed- 

 lings with abnormal primary leaves does not depend 

 simply on the degree of fixation of the variety. It de- 

 pends mainly on the proportion of small seeds. This, 

 however, in its turn, depends on the size of the harvest. 



Fig. 48. Trifolium incarnatum. Monstrous seedlings 

 from the smaller seeds. A, B, D, with two to four 

 primary leaves ; C, with a double leaf with broad 

 flat peduncle. 



In the 41 samples which composed the harvest of 1898 

 there were 8 with 8-27% abnormals ; these samples con- 

 sisted of from 0.3 to 1.5 cc. of seed. The remaining 

 samples consisted of from 2 to 5 cc. of seed and the 

 n.umber of abnormals produced ranged between and 

 5%. From these facts we see that the weaker individ- 



* In stocks also the seeds which produce plants with double 

 flowers and those which give rise to "singles" have difl^erent rates 

 of germination, as is well known. An investigation of the seeds ot 

 inconstant varieties, or, as they are usually described, varieties which 

 have not "yet" been fixed, would be certain to reward the inquirer 

 with many interesting discoveries. 



