54 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



lu both of those cases the fruit developed, as indicated, about six 

 inches in length, and remained in that condition several weeks. 

 No seeds were developed, and late in the summer the fruits began 

 to decav. 



Fig. 15. Summer Crookueck '^ Amtrican Turban. 



A most remarkable instance of secondary influence of foreign 

 pollen is that recorded by Lowe.* Flowers of the yellow musk 

 plant, Mimulus luteus, were crossed with Mimulus cashmerianus 

 which has spotted flowers. When the pods from these floweis 

 were nearly matured, other flowers upon the same branches "were 

 given pollen of M. luteus. More than one hundred seedlings were 

 grown from these latter crosses and every one bore spotted 

 flowers. In other words, the influence of the pollen of the foreign 

 species was transferred along the branch and overcame the in- 

 fluence of pollen from the same species. ( ! ) 



This result is in direct opposition to Focke's principle of the 

 prepotency of pollen of the species as compared with foreign 

 pollen, and as yet, so far as I am aware, Lowe's statements have 

 not been verified. I have undertaken to prove the truth or error 

 of the statements, but have not as yet reached conclusions. 



■ Superfoetation : Is it possible that the progeny of any plant 

 may be in any way affected by the application of foreign pollen to 

 the stigma after self-fertilization has already taken place? Is it 

 possible to obtain distinct effects from two male parents when the 

 pollen is applied at different times? 



Comparatively little has been done towards solving these ques- 

 tions, and the}' are suggested as promising lines of investigation 

 rather than as subjects for extended discussion at this time. 

 Both Grayl and Fockej have denied the possibility of superfos- 

 tation, but other observers have cited instances in support of the 



*E. J. Lowe, Rep. British Ass'n lor Adv. ot Sci. 1885, p. 1081. 

 fAni. Jour. Sol. and Arts XXV, 123. 

 JDie Pflauzen inischliuge, 448. 



