352 



WEIGHT AND GERMINATION OF CHAP. IX. 



above given cases, in which the flowers were artificially 

 fertilised with their own pollen. 



Considering the facts now adduced, including the 

 appearance of those varieties which are more fertile 

 and taller than their parents and than the intercrossed 

 plants of the corresponding generation, it is difficult 

 to avoid the suspicion that self-fertilisation is in some 

 respects advantageous; though if this be really the 

 case,* any such advantage is as a rule quite insignifi- 

 cant compared with that from a cross with a distinct 

 plant, and especially with one of a fresh stock. Should 

 this suspicion be hereafter verified, it would throw 

 light, as we shall see in the next chapter, on the exist- 

 ence of plants bearing small and inconspicuous flowers 

 which are rarely visited by insects, and therefore are 

 rarely intercrossed. 



Relative Weight and Period of Germination of Seeds 

 from crossed and self-fertilised Flowers. An equal 

 number of seeds from flowers fertilised with pollen from 

 another plant, and from flowers fertilised with their own 

 pollen, were weighed, but only in sixteen cases. Their 

 relative weights are given in the following list ; that 

 of the seeds from the crossed flowers being taken as 100. 



* M. Errara, who intends pub- 

 lishing on the present subject, 

 has been so kind as to send me 

 his MS. to rend. He is convinced 

 that self-fertilisation is never 

 more beneficial than a cross with 



another flower. I hope that his 

 view may hereafter be proved 

 correct, as the subject of cross 

 and self-fertilisation would be 

 thus much simplified. 



