[28.1]

Fig 15e

[28.2]

Smithia Pfundii Right-Hand Plant

[28.1v]

31

Introduction

plants of the first generation were in flower I thought that I would raise one more generation, and acted in the following manner. Several flowers on one or more of the self-fertilised plants were again self-fertilised; with their own pollen; from another crossed and several flowers on one or more of the crossed plants were fertilised with pollen from another crossed plant of the same lot. Having thus once begun, I followed the same course method was followed for as many as then successive generations with some of the species. The seeds and seedlings were always treated in exactly the manner as already described. The self-fertilized plants, whether originally descended from one or two mother-plants, were thus in each generation as closely interbred as was possible; and I could not have improved on my method plan. But instead of intercrossing one of the crossed plants with another, I ought to have crossed the self-fertilised plants of each generation

[28.2v]

32

Introduction

with pollen taken from a non-selected plant that is one belonging to a distinct family or stock belonging of course to of the same species & variety. This was done in several cases as an additional experiment, with & gave very striking results. But the plan ordinarily usually followed was to put into competition and compares intercrossed plants, which were almost always the offspring of more or less closely related plants with the self-fertilised plants of each succeeding generation; ─ all having been grown under closely similar conditions. But I have, however, learnt more by this method of proceeding, which was begun by an oversight and then necessarily followed, than if I had always crossed the self-fertilised plants of each succeeding generation with pollen from a fresh stock. I have said that the crossed plants of the successive generations, were almost always inter-related. When the flowers on an single hermaphrodite plant were first crossed with pollen taken from a distinct