37 S Remarks on the supposed Influence of the Pollen in 



opinion, that the colour of the seed-coats at least, may be 

 changed by the influence of the pollen of a variety of a different 

 character; and hence he infers, with apparent reason, the proba- 

 bility that the taste and flavour of fruits may be also affected. 



The narrative of Mr. Goss is unquestionably quite correct ; 

 but I believe that there is an error in the inference which he 

 has drawn ; and I am anxious that such error, if it exist, should 

 be pointed out ; because it may occasion many experiments 

 to be made to prove that, which I conceive to have been al- 

 ready sufficiently proved ; and, consequently, cause the use- 

 less expenditure of time and labour, which might be ad- 

 vantageously employed in similar investigations upon other 

 plants in the wide and unexplored field which lies open to 

 the experimental Horticulturist, 



The numerous varieties of strictly permanent habits of the 

 Pea, its annual life, and the distinct character in form, size, 

 and colour of many of its varieties, induced me, many 

 years ago, to select it for the purpose of ascertaining, by a 

 long course of experiments, the effects of introducing the 

 pollen of one variety into the prepared blossoms of another. 

 My chief object in these experiments was to obtain such infor- 

 mation as would enable me to calculate the probable effects 

 of similar operations upon other species of plants ; and I 

 believe it would not be easy to suggest an experiment of cross 

 breeding upon this plant, of which I have not seen the result, 

 through many successive generations. I shall, therefore, pro- 

 ceed to give a concise account of some of these experiments, 

 or rather (as I wish not to occupy more than necessary of 

 the time of the Society), to state the results of a few of 

 them, believing that I shall be able to explain satisfactorily, 



