of the petals become reflexed, and their inwardly projecting midribs then pass between the clefts of the stigma, and in doing so push the pollen from the outside of the pistil on to the stigmatic surfaces. (5/21.  Mr. Meehan has lately shown ’Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science Philadelphia’ May 16, 1876 page 84, that the closing of the flowers of Claytonia virginica and Ranunculus bulbosus during the night causes their self-fertilisation.)

Twenty flowers were fertilised by me with their own pollen, but owing to the bad season, only six capsules were produced; they contained on an average 21.7 seeds, with a maximum of forty-eight in one.  Fourteen flowers were crossed with pollen from another plant, and these produced twelve capsules, containing on an average 30 seeds, with a maximum in one of fifty-seven seeds; so that the crossed seeds were to the self-fertilised from an equal number of capsules as 100 to 72.  The former were also heavier than an equal number of self-fertilised seeds, in the ratio of 100 to 86.  Thus, whether we judge by the number of capsules produced from an equal number of flowers, or by the average number of the contained seeds, or the maximum number in any one capsule, or by their weight, crossing does great good in comparison with self-fertilisation.  The two lots of seeds were sown on the opposite sides of four pots; but the seedlings were not sufficiently thinned.  Only the tallest plant on each side was measured, when fully grown.  The measurements are given in Table 5/67.  In all four pots the crossed plants flowered first.  When the seedlings were only about an inch and a half in height both lots were equal.

Table 5/67.  Specularia speculum.

Heights of plants measured in inches.

Column 1:  Number (Name) of Pot.

Column 2:  Tallest Crossed Plant in each Pot.

Column 3:  Tallest Self-fertilised Plant in each Pot.

Pot 1 :  18 :  15 6/8.

Pot 2 :  17 :  19.

Pot 3 :  22 1/8 :  18.

Pot 4 :  20 :  23.

Total :  77.13 :  75.75.

The four tallest crossed plants averaged 19.28, and the four tallest self-fertilised 18.93 inches in height; or as 100 to 98.  So that there was no difference worth speaking of between the two lots in height; though other great advantages are derived, as we have seen, from cross-fertilisation.  From being grown in pots and kept in the greenhouse, none of the plants produced any capsules.

Lobelia ramosa. (5/22.  I have adopted the name given to this plant in the ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle’ 1866.  Professor T. Dyer, however, informs me that it probably is a white variety of L. tenuior of R. Brown, from W. Australia.)

Var.  Snow-flake.