314 



LESSONS WITH PLANTS 



(The specimens in Fig. 281 were probably not pollinated.) Observe 

 any specimens of fruits which may be found upon the ground early 

 in the season . 



381. There are some fruit? which may mature 

 to normal size and appearance wholly without the 

 aid of pollen, but they are 

 seedless. Some of the hot- 

 house cucumbers do this. Fig. 

 327 is an egg-plant fruit 

 which has received no pollen, 

 but which, although it persists 

 upon the plant, refuses to grow 

 to full size, as may be seen 

 by the relative sizes of fruit 

 and enlarging calyx. We may 

 conclude by saying that im- 

 pregnation is necessary to the 

 development of seeds, that pol- 

 len may have a powerful see- 

 Non-poiiinated egg-plant ^^^^^^ influence in developing 



the pericarp and fruit, that 

 very many ovaries enlarge for a time in the ab- 

 sence of pollination, and that some pericarps are 

 known to develop normally wholly without the 

 aid of either seeds or pollen. 



Fib. 327. 



381o. A somewhat full discussion of seedless forcing-house fruits 

 and of the influence of pollen in developing size of fruit, may be 

 found in Bailey's "Forcing-Book." 



