So An Examination of Weismannism. 



Darwin then proceeds to show that this direct action 

 of the male element on the somatic tissues of another 

 organism is not so rare or anomalous as it at first 

 sight appears ; for in the case of not a few flowers it 

 comes into play as a needful preliminary to fertiliza- 

 tion. Thus, for instance : — 



Gartner gradually increased the number of pollen grains 

 until he succeeded in fertilizing a Malva, and has proved that 

 many grains are first expended in the development, or, as he 

 expresses it, in the satiation, of the pistil and ovarium. Again, 

 when one plant is fertilized by a widely distinct species, it often 

 happens that the ovarium is fully and quickly developed 

 without any seeds being formed ; or the coats of the seeds are 

 formed without any embryo being developed therein. 



So much, then, in proof of the direct action of 

 the male element on the somatic-tissues of another 

 organism. It remains to show that a similar action 

 may be exercised by this element on the somatic- 

 tissues of its own organism. This has been proved by 

 Hildebrand, who found "that in the normal fertiliza- 

 tion of several Orchideae, the action of the plant's 

 own pollen is necessary for the development of the 

 ovarium ; and that this development takes place not 

 only long before the pollen tubes have reached the 

 ovules, but even before the placentae and ovules have 

 been formed " ; so that with these orchids the pollen 

 acts directly on their own ovaria, as a preliminary to 

 the formation of the ovules which are subsequently 

 to be fertilized. 



It is to be regretted that Professor Weismann 

 has not given us his opinion upon this whole class 

 of facts, for assuredly they appear directly to con- 

 tradict his theory. The theory is, " that the germ- 



