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LVIII. Some Remarks on the supposed Influence of the 

 Pollen, in cross breeding, upon the Colour of the Seed-coats 

 of Plants, and the Qualities of their Fruits. By Thomas 

 Andrew Knight, Esq. F> R. S., fyc. President. 



Read June 3, 1823. 



I t has been long ago ascertained by physiologists, that the 

 seed-coats, or membranes which cover the cotyledons of the 

 seeds of plants, with the receptacles which contain such seed- 

 coats, are visible some time before the blossoms acquire their 

 full growth ; and the existence of these organs is, therefore, 

 obviously independant of the influence of the pollen upon 

 the growth of the internal and essential parts of the future 

 seeds. The seed-coats also, and the fruit of some species of 

 plants, acquire nearly, if not wholly, their perfect growth 

 when the pollen has been intirely withheld, or when, from 

 other causes, it has not operated ; and from these circum- 

 stances, and other observations, it has been inferred, that 

 neither the external cover of the seeds, nor the form, taste, 

 or flavour of fruit s, are affected by the influence of the pollen 

 of a plant of a different variety or species. There exists, how- 

 ever, some difference of opinion upon these points ; and the 

 experiments of Mr. Goss upon the Pea, of which an account 

 is given in a Paper recently printed in the Transactions of the 

 Horticultural Society* appear strongly to countenance the 



