122 



and it has been asuuined that cross breeding among plants 

 mustbe a benefit soelly because arrangements for its accom- 

 plishments exist." 



Long before Darwin's admirable researches appeared in 

 print, some observers surmised that cross-fertilization is an 

 advantage to the plant. Dean Herbert wrote in 1836*: 

 "1 am inclined to think that I have derived advantage from 

 impregnating the flowers from which I wished to obtain 

 seeds with pollen from another individual of the same 

 variety, or at least from another flower rather than its own, 

 and especially from an individual grown in a difl'erent soil 

 or aspect." 



Koelreuter, Sprengel and Knight had also observed 

 many facts with reference to cross-fertilization, though they 

 failed to see the full import of this question in its relation to 

 plant life. 



Dr. Gray ^ says: -'When Mr. Darwin announced the 

 principle tliat cross-fertilization between the individuals of a 

 species is the plan of Nature, and is practically so universal 

 that it fairly sustains his inference that no hermaphrodite 

 species continually self-fertilized would continue to exist, he 

 made it clear to all who apprehend and receive the principle 

 that a series of plants propagated by buds only must have a 

 weaker hold of life than a series reproduced by seed." 

 >.^^ Darwin^ was the first to place the subject on a scientific 

 basis by means of a large number of experiments. He says, 

 "That the injury from the close breeding of animals and 

 from self-ferlilization of plants does not necessarily depend 

 on any tendency to disease or weakness of constitution, as 



4 Henslow; Origin of floral structures. 



6 Darwiniana, p 345. 



6 Cross and self-fertilization, etc. 



