3(i MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



immediate directing influence on the form and size of the recep- 

 tacle.* Mr. Fuller attributes this apparent influence to the 

 direct action of the pollen in stimulating the growth of ovary or 

 receptacle without reference to the fertilization of the ovules. 

 Admitting the stimulating effect, however — and of this there seems 

 to be but little doubt — does the directing effect necessarily follow ? 



From an extensive field experiment conducted by Professor T. 

 J. Burrill in 1884, it was found "easy enough to select individual 

 berries conspicuously different from each other, as is always the 

 case, but it was not possible to detect the slightest tendency 

 towards a resemblance to the pollen bearer."! In a similar 

 experiment conducted the following year on the farm of P. M. 

 Angur of Connecticut, like results were obtained.]: 



In none of the carefull}' conducted experiments of Goff and 

 Hunn at the New York Experiment Station, have any immediate 

 effects been discerned. Berries from Crescent blossoms, receiving 

 the pollen of Lenuig's "White, were not different in color from those 

 fertilized with Wilson or Sharpless pollen. Flowers fertilized on 

 one side by pollen from the white variety, and on the other with 

 Sharpless pollen were symmetrical in form and uniform in color. § 

 Out of one hundred and sixty-seven, successful crosses made by 

 Crozier, there was not an individual instance that pointed to a 

 specific influence of the foreign pollen. || 



The nature of cucurbitaceous plants is admirably adapted to 

 show the immediate effects of crossing if such occur. In a mixed 

 plantation many of the fiowers on any individual plant, when left 

 to natural processes, would necessarily receive pollen from very 

 different sources. If now, there were an immediate effect of 

 pollen, we should expect to find fruits of very different character 

 on any vine. Such is not the case, however. I have repeatedly 

 looked for this difference, but have never seen it ; nor have I 

 observed it when several flowers on the same plant were artificially 

 crossed with pollen from different varieties or species. Crozier^ 

 and Bailey have repeatedly obtained like results. Bailey, whose 

 crosses of cucurbits run up into the thousands, asserts positively 

 that: "There is no immediate infiuence whatever, except such as 



* Proc. Am. Pom. Soc, 1885, 68. 



t Proc. Am. Pom. Soc, 1885, 67. 



t Ibid, 70. 



§ 4tli Rep. K. T. Agr. Exp. Sta., (1885), 227; .5th Rep. (1886), 179; also Bui. 24, (N. S.), 



330, (1890). 

 II Agr. Sci., IV, 287. 

 ir Ag. Sci., 1,227. ^-' 



