276 DR. J. W. HESLOP HARRISON ON 



and gave every promise of abundant seeds, as was disclosed 

 wiien examples were opened for examination. The future 

 wholesale failure was far from being suspected, and it was 

 with considerable dismay I beheld the gradual dropping of 

 the hips. The reason, however, was only too apparent after 

 dissection ; on account of the sessile head of stigmas, to ensure 

 their complete removal, I had cut too deeply into the fruit so 

 that decay and insect enemies could work their will un- 

 hindered, thus causing its premature fall with its store of 

 half-ripened seeds. 



From these experiments we perceive that at least Rosa mollis 

 var. caendea, R. riibiginosa var. comosa, R. rubighiosa, hybrid 

 Lucy Ashton and R. glaitca var. subcn'sfata are apomictical. 

 All of the other microgenes tested would seem, at first sight, 

 to depend for their successful seeding on pollination either by 

 means of their own sound microspores or by foreign pollen 

 conveyed by insects. However, experiments carried out during 

 1920 prove that all our local rose microgenes examined, save 

 Rosa arvensis and R. pitnpineUifoHa, are to some extent 

 facultatively apomictical. 



Although not submitted to experiment, Rosa Borreri s&Qms 

 likewise to be apomictical. A certain shrub, whose pollen 

 proved wholly defective when put under the microscope in 

 June, was nevertheless decked with a brave array of crimson 

 globes in October. One of these carried at its apex the 

 unopened flower bud. This seems proof positive that in this 

 particular blossom some type of apomixis had taken place, 

 and suggested that the other fruits originated in the same 

 manner. 



Of course in this, as in all the other instances, the apomixis 

 may be of the facultative order. 



The proof of apomixis existing in Rosa does not rest solely 

 on my work, for Dingier has proved it to occur in an unnamed 

 Riibiginosa form, whilst Lundstrom demonstrated its existence 

 in varieties of R. glauca and R. coriifolia. 



