Chap. IX. CROSSED AND SELF-FERTILISED SEEDS. 355 



the case of Eschscholtzia they were inferior in fertility. 

 Unfortunately the relative weight of the two lots of 

 seeds was ascertained in only a few instances in which 

 their germination was observed ; but with Ipomcea and 

 I believe with some of the other species, the relative 

 lightness of the self-fertilised seeds apparently deter- 

 mined their early germination, probably owing to the 

 smaller mass being favourable to the more rapid com- 

 pletion of the chemical and morphological changes 

 necessary for germination.* On the other hand, Mr. 

 Galton gave me seeds (no doubt all self-fertilised) of 

 Lathyrus odoratus, which were divided into two lots of 

 heavier and lighter seeds; and several of the former 

 germinated first. It is evident that many more obser- 

 vations are necessary before anything can be decided 

 with respect to the relative period of germination of 

 crossed and self-fertilised seeds. 



* Mr. J. Scott remarks (' Man- 

 ual of Opium Husbandry,' 1877, 

 p. 131) that the smaller seeds of 

 Pa paver somniferum germinate 

 first. He also states that the 

 larger seeds yield the finer crop 

 of plants. With respect to this 



latter subject see an abstract in 

 Burbidge's ' Cultivated Plants,' 

 1877, p. 33, on the important 

 experiments show'ng the some 

 results, by Dr. M Trek and Prof. 

 Lehmann. 



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