Ww dw n 4 c7 e 
44 
SHORT NOTES AND QUERIES. 
FERTILIZATION OF GmassEs.— The reference in the last number of - 
the ‘Journal of Botany’ (p. 26) to M. Bidard by Prof. Thiselton Dyer 3 
appears to imply that that gentleman is not aware of any doubt haviug 
been thrown on the accuracy of M. Bidard's observations on the fertiliza- 
tion of Grasses. About the time of the publication of his paper in the 
‘Comptes Rendus’ I was in correspondence on the subject with Mr. 
Darwin, who told me that Prof. Delpino, of Florence, had also made a 
series of observations, the results being directly opposed to those of the 
rench botanist. Whether these observations have been published I do 
not know. The well-known and extremely accurate observer, Mr. Spruce, 
has, however, forwarded to the Royal Horticultural Society a paper, 
which was read at its Scientific Committee, December 21st, 1869, from 
(Luziola, Pharus, Olyra, and some Bambusee), and the abundance of 
pollen scattered by some, he proceeds :—“ To come home to our own 
the flowers of Grasses in such abundance? Watch a field of Wheat in 
bloom, the heads swayed by the wind, lovingly kissing each other, and 
doubtless stealing and giving pollen. Consider, too, that throughout 
is) 
— 
o cee, as well as in Cynodon, 
ersia, and some other genera, the stigmas are protruded from the side 
dinginess ecay. Where the anthers emer n , and 
change from that to brown, it will probably be found that they have dis- 
charged their pollen while still included in the flower. ese observa- 
to correction. Of G y 
which the ovary may be fertilized, viz. either by the pollen of its own 
flower (closed or open), or by that of other flowers, after the manner of 
the diclinous species. In the latter case, the pollen may be transport 
by the wind, or in the fur of animals (as I have observed the seeds of 
iecit in South America), or in the plumage of birds. The agency 
inseets has not been traced. in the fertilization of Grasses, but may — 
DEDECUS ere mr sitne iu m erc a iie 
