278 ACCOUNT OF SOME MULBJ PLANTS. 



similar to the petals of blossoms, were in many instances arranged as in a 

 perfect blossom, which withered and died, whilst a bud upon the lower 

 part of the stem vegetated, and the period of puberty in the plants did 

 not subsequently appear to be at all accelerated by the operation of the 

 high temperature in which the seeds had been ripened. 



I do not offer plants of the mule varieties above-mentioned of the 

 cherry to the Society, because I feel quite confident of their being wholly 

 useless. 



LIV. SOME REMARKS ON THE SUPPOSED INFLUENCE OF THE POLLEN, 

 IN CROSS BREEDING, UPON THE COLOUR OF THE SEED-COATS 

 OF PLANTS, AND THE QUALITIES OF THEIR FRUITS. 



[Read before the HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, June 3e?, 1823.] 



IT has been long ago ascertained by physiologists, that the seed-coats, 

 or membranes which cover the cotyledons of the seeds of plants, with 

 the receptacles which contain such seed-coats, are visible some time 

 before the blossoms acquire their full growth ; and the existence of these 

 organs is, therefore, obviously independent of the influence of the pollen 

 upon the growth of the internal and essential parts of the future seeds. 

 The seed-coats also, and the fruit of some species of plants, acquire 

 nearly, if not wholly, their perfect growth when the pollen has been 

 entirely withheld, or when, from other causes, it has not operated ; and 

 from these circumstances, and other observations, it has been inferred, 

 that neither the external cover of the seeds, nor the form, taste, or 

 flavour of fruits, are affected by the influence of the pollen of a plant 

 of a different variety or species. There exists, however, some difference 

 of opinion upon these points; and the experiments of Mr. Goss upon the 

 pea, of which an account is given in a paper recently printed in the Trans- 

 actions of the Horticultural Society*, appear strongly to countenance 

 the opinion, that the colour of the seed-coats, at least, may be changed 

 by the influence of the pollen of a variety of a different character ; and 

 hence he infers, with apparent reason, the probability that the taste and 

 flavour of fruits may be also affected. 



The narrative of Mr. Goss is unquestionably quite correct; but I 

 believe that there is an error in the inference which he has drawn ; and 

 I am anxious that such error, if it exist, should be pointed out ; because 



* See Vol. V. page 234. 



