128 



ADONIS ^STIVALIS. 



CHAT. IV. 



derived from the crossed plants flowered in all three pots before 

 the naturally crossed seedlings derived from the self- fertilised 

 plants. When both lots were in full flower, the two tallest 

 plants on each side of each pot were measured, and the result 

 is shown in the preceding table. 



The average height of the six tallest plants derived from the 

 crossed plants is 12 '56 inches; and that of the six tallest plants 

 derived from the self-fertilised plants is 10 '31 inches; or as 

 100 to 82. We here see a considerable difference in height 

 between the two sets, though very far from equalling that in the 

 previous trials between the offspring from crossed and self- 

 fertilised flowers. This difference must be attributed to the 

 latter set of plants having inherited a weak constitution from 

 their parents, the offspring of self-fertilised flowers ; notwith- 

 standing that the parents themselves had been freely inter- 

 crossed with other plants by the aid of insects. 



X. EANUNCULACE^S. ADONIS JBSTIVALIS. 

 The results of my experiments on this plant are hardly worth 

 giving, as I remark in my notes made at the time, "seedlings, 

 from some unknown cause, all miserably unhealthy." Nor did they 

 ever become healthy ; yet I feel bound to give the present case, 

 as it is opposed to the general results at which I have arrived. 

 Fifteen flowers were crossed and all produced fruit, containing 

 on an average 32 5 seeds ; nineteen flowers were fertilised with 

 their own pollen, and they likewise all yielded fruit, containing 

 a rather larger average of 34 5 seeds ; or as 100 to 106. Seedlings 

 were raised from these seeds. In one of the pots all the self- 

 fertilised plants died whilst quite young; in the two others, the 

 measurements were as follows : 



TABLE XLHL 



Adonis xstivalis. 



