Monstrosities 417 



having two separate apices, but not always* 

 Such seedlings are called syncotyledonous or 

 syncotyls. Other monstrosities have been ob- 

 served from time to time, but need not be men- 

 tioned here. 



It is evident that the determination of the 

 hereditary percentage is very easy in tricotyl- 

 ous or syncotylous cultures. The parent- 

 plants must be carefully isolated while bloom- 

 ing. Many species pollinate themselves in the 

 absence of bees; from these the insects are 

 to be excluded. Others have the stamens and 

 stigmas widely separated and have to be polli- 

 nated artificially. Still others do not lend them- 

 selves to such operations, but have to be left free 

 to the visits of bees and of humble-bees, this be- 

 ing the only means of securing seed from every 

 plant. At the time of the harvest the seeds 

 should be gathered separately from each plant, 

 and this precaution should also be observed in 

 studies of the hereditary percentage at large, 

 and in all scientific pedigree-cultures. Every lot 

 of seeds is to be sown in a separate pan, and care 

 must be taken to sow such quantities that three 

 to four hundred seedlings will arise from each. 

 As soon as they display their cotyledons, they 

 are counted, and the number is the criterion of 

 the parent-plant. Only parent-plants with the 

 highest percentages are selected, and out of 



