IOI 
inch long (while the female flower was in full bloom) in four 
plants, while the others showed no sign of any female flowers 
whatever. Fortunately, I have seeds from the same cob left and 
as soon as l am transferred to some district where conditions 
for maize-growing are more favourable than in Niagara, it will 
be possible to ascertain to what degree the climate was responsible 
for the unusual occurrence. 
I have given you the result of my experiments, and as you 
see, the Mendelian principle proved to be correct in these instances. 
At present I am experimenting with two plants which promise 
highly interesting as well as striking results, I mean the beautiful 
Sturt’s Pea { Clianthus Danipieri), which grows on the goldfields, 
and the Lupine, which, although imported, is found wild in the 
South-West portion and some northern parts of this State. 
Though closely related, and somewhat similar of leaf, the first is 
procumbent, and has scarlet flowers, the second is erect also 
bears blue flowers. Should my experiments prove successful, I 
shall publish them. 
This brings my communication to an end. But I desire to 
put before you for consideration the application of Mendelism to 
human beings. Malformations and certain diseases have been 
used as examples. It is obvious that it is very difficult to obtain 
reliable information concerning a sufficient number of generations, 
and, therefore, it is very difficult to ascertain whether or not 
the Mendelian theory applies to human beings. But, quite apart 
from this, it seems to me that there is one reason why even correct 
genealogical records stating the cases of heredity in a sufficient 
number of generations have little value. 
In experimenting with plants, we obtain mostly, if not always, 
the fertilization of all the ovules contained in the seed-case. In 
other words, the flowers bear seeds to their utmost capacity. 
In working out the proportions between Dominant and Recess- 
ives, pures and impures, we have a solid foundation upon which 
we can base our calculations. In the case of men this is practi- 
cally never so. No woman can be said to bear the highest 
possible number of children. If, therefore, we have in human 
progeny the proportion between Re essivt and Dominant which 
does, or does not, agree with Mendelian law's, the question will 
always be open. What would have been the case if further 
children had been born ? Would they have upset or re-adjusted 
the proportion according to Mendel s principles. And as this 
question necessarily must remain unanswered it seems to me 
that experiments and records in this direction will always be of 
little value. 
