THE SELF-FERTILTZATION OF PLANTS. 351 



from this step (crossing), especially with exotic genera, 

 of which the fertility is somewhat impaired, such as 

 Passiflora, Lobelia and Fuchsia. Herbert also says, 

 'I am inclined to think that I have derived advan- 

 tage from impregnating the flowers from which I 

 wished to obtain seed, with pollen from another indi- 

 vidual of the same variety, or at least from another 

 flower, rather than with its own.' Again, Professor 

 Lecoy asserts that he has ascertained that crossed off- 

 spring are more vigorous and robust than their parent. 

 " General statements of this kind, however, can 

 seldom be fully trusted; consequently, I have begun 

 a series of experiments which, if they continue to give 

 the same results as hitherto, will forever settle the ques- 

 tion of the good effects of crossing two distinct plants 

 of the same variety, and of the evil effects of self-ferti- 

 lization. A clear light will then be thrown (sic) on the 

 fact that flowers are invariably constructed so as to 

 permit, or favor or necessitate the union of two indi- 

 viduals." 



With respect to this last statement, he has been a 

 little negligent in the use of the word "invariably;" 

 for, he himself gives cases of flowers so enclosed 

 as to preclude all possibility of a cross. These en- 

 closed flowers, too, are perfectly fertile, notwithstand- 

 ing that their structure forbids the supposition, that 

 there ever was anything, with them, but self-fertiliza- 

 tion! 



But, to accompany Darwin, in the experiments which 

 are "forever to settle the question" of his "great law 

 of nature:" 



"The plan," continues he, "which I have followed, 

 in my experiments, is to grow plants in the same pot, 

 or in pots of the same size, or close together in the 



