442 



THE AMEBIC AN NATURALIST [Vol. LIII 



peculiar to the mother plant, but produces in the embryo only, the 

 capacity of bringing forth a mixed product from both concurrent 



new plant (p. 327). 



In an earlier paper of Gartner's (2b), he cites Mauz's 

 case of modifications in the character of different fruits 

 on a pear tree, through pollination from various varieties 

 of pears, whereby he was said to have obtained, ''a great 

 number of fruits different in form and colors" (p. 138). 



His interest aroused by the phenomenon reported in 

 maize, he undertook a series of crossing experiments to 

 determine "whether foreign pollen exercises or does not 

 exercise an immediate influence on the external character 

 of the fruits and seeds which are the result of these fer- 

 tilizations," but with entirely negative results. No 

 change whatsoever was observed in the color or external 

 characteristics of the fruits arising from crossing. 



The ifafluenee of the foreign pollen does not then change anything in 



qualities of the fruits, the seeds and even th^ embryo. This influence 

 only gives to the latter the faculty of producing, through germination 

 and through the ulterior development of the new plant, an intimate 

 combination of the form of the members of the two species which have 

 united in its production (p. 139). 



One of the most interesting matters, of course, is that 

 which concerns the alteration in the character of hybrid 

 seeds or fruits due to the immediate effect of foreign 

 pollen. Gartner reviews in detail the previous work of 

 Knight, Goss and Seton with peas. In 1829, he started 

 a selfed and a crossed series of peas, using four varieties 

 (pp. 81 85). 



The results as to the immediate effect of the cross on 

 the seeds were as follows : 



