CHAP. V. 



PELARGONIUM ZONALE. 



143 



sides of three pots. In one pot the quasi-crossed plant was very 

 soon and ever afterwards taller and finer than the self-fertilised. 

 In the two other pots the seedlings on both sides were for a time 

 exactly equal ; but when the self-fertilised plants were about 

 10 inches in height, they surpassed their antagonists by a little, 

 and ever afterwards showed a more decided and increasing 

 advantage ; so that the self-fertilised plants, taken altogether, 

 were somewhat superior to the quasi-crossed plants. In this 

 case, as in that of the Origanum, if individuals which have been 

 asexually propagated from the same stock, and which have been 

 long subjected to the same conditions, are crossed, no advantage 

 whatever is gained. 



Several flowers on another plant of the same variety were 

 fertilised with pollen from the younger flowers on the same plant, 

 so as to avoid using the old and long-shed pollen from the same 

 flower, as I thought that this latter might be less efficient than 

 fresh pollen. Other flowers on the same plant were crossed with 

 fresh pollen from a plant which, although closely similar, was 

 known to have arisen as a distinct seedling. The self-fertilised 

 seeds germinated rather before the others ; but as soon as I got 

 equal pairs they were planted on the opposite sides of four pots. 



TABLE XLIX. 



Pelargonium zonale. 



When the two lots of seedlings were between 4 and 5 inches in 

 height they were equal, excepting in Pot IV., in which the crossed 

 plant was much the tallest. When between 11 and 14 inches 

 in height, they were measured to the tips of their uppermost 



