THE SELF-FERTILIZATION OF PLANTS. 361 



same, or of a distinct species. The fact of these plants 

 having spontaneously acquired so peculiar a constitu- 

 tion, that they can be fertilized more readily by the 

 pollen of a distinct species, than by their own, is re- 

 markable (!) These abnormal cases, as well as the 

 foregoing normal cases, in which certain, orchids, for 

 instance, can be much more easily fertilized by the 

 pollen- of a distinct species, than by their own, are 

 exactly the reverse of what occurs with all ordinary 

 species (!) For, in these latter, the two sexual elements 

 of the same individual plant, are capable of freely act- 

 ing on each other; but are so constituted, that they 

 are more or less impotent, when brought into union 

 with the sexual elements of a distinct species, and pro- 

 duce more or less sterile hybrids. It would appear, 

 that the pollen, or ovules, or both, of the individual 

 plants which are in this abnormal state, have been 

 affected in some strange (!) manner, by the conditions 

 to which they themselves or their parents have been 

 exposed; but whilst thus self-sterile, they have re- 

 tained the capacity, common to most species, of par- 

 tially fertilizing, and being partially fertilized, by allied 

 forms. However this may be, the subject, to a certain 

 extent, is related to our general conclusion, that good 

 is derived from the act of crossing." 



"Conclusion!" The term is a happy one; for his 

 explanation concludes precisely where it begins, — at 

 the very fact to be explained. If, from the fact, that 

 good results from crossing, he deduces, or induces, a 

 conclusion, that good results from crossing, how unique, 

 and ingenious, must have been the process of ratiocina- 

 tion, or of induction, by which he effected the transi- 

 tion from the fact to the conclusion ! 



He makes a passably good guess at the remote cause 

 31* 



