334 BOTANY [Chap. XI 



Letter 658 run down walls of ovarium, and then turn up the placenta, 

 and so debouch near the " orifices " of the ovules ? 



If you thought it worth while to examine ovules, I would 

 see if there are more monstrous flowers, and put pollen 

 into the ovarium, and send you the flowers in fourteen 

 or fifteen days afterwards. But it is rather troublesome. I 

 would not do it unless you cared to examine the ovules. 

 Like a foolish and idle man, I have wasted a whole morning 

 over them. . . . 



In two ovules there was an odd appearance, as if the 

 outer coat of ovule at the chalaza end (if I understand the 

 ovule) had naturally opened or withered where most of the 

 pollen-tubes seemed to penetrate, which made me at first 

 think this was a widely open foramen. I wonder whether 

 the ovules could be thus fertilised ? 



Letter 659 To D. Oliver. 



Down [April, 1863]. 

 Many thanks about the Primula. I see that I was pretty 

 right about the ovules. I have been thinking" that the apparent 

 opening at the chalaza end must have been withering or 

 perhaps gnawing by some very minute insects, as the ovarium 

 is open at the upper end. If I have time I will have another 

 look at pollen-tubes, as, from what you say, they ought to find 

 their way to the micropyle. But ovules to me are far more 

 troublesome to dissect than animal tissue ; they are so soft, 

 and muddy the water. 



Letter 660 To Maxwell Masters. 



Down, April 6th [1863]. 

 I have been very glad to read your paper on Peloria. 1 

 For the mere chance of the following case being new I send 

 it. A plant which I purchased as Corydalis tuberosa has, as 

 you know, one nectary — short, white, and without nectar ; the 

 pistil is bowed towards the true nectary ; and the hood formed 

 by the inner petals slips off towards the opposite side (all 

 adaptations to insect agency, like many other pretty ones 

 in this family). Now on my plants there are several flowers 

 (the fertility of which I will observe) with both nectaries equal 



1 " On the Existence of Two Forms of Peloria." Natural History 

 Review, April, 1863, p. 258. 



