[138]

Reference overlooked Self-sterile Plant

Gard Chronicle 1868 p. 1286

Libia & Forsythia (see to this)

[Cross and self fertilisation, p. 341: "As in the course of my experiments I have found three new cases, and as Fritz Müller has observed indications of several others, it is probable that they will hereafter be proved to be far from rare.†
† Mr. Wilder, the editor of a horticultural journal in the United States (quoted in 'Gardeners' Chronicle' 1868 page 1286) states that Lilium auratum, Impatiens pallida and fulva, and Forsythia viridissima, cannot be fertilised with their own pollen." Darwin refers to the following: "Mr. Wilder records in the 'American Gardeners' Monthly,' the results of some of his experiments in Crossing Japan Lilies. He has succeeded in crossing L. lancifolium with pollen of L. tigrinum. The same observer finds that L. auratum is fertilised with difficulty with its own pollen or with that of L. tigrinum, while it will take that of L. lancifolium. Lilium lancifolium, too, has been successfully crossed with pollen of Gloriosa superba! This is a very interesting cross, of which we should be glad to hear more. In reference to this communication the Editor adds his experience, which goes to show that Balsams (Impatiens pallida, and fulva) cannot he fertilised with their own pollen. In the same way Forsythia viridissima, which has not been known to produce a seed-vessel, has done so when crossed with pollen of F. suspensa. Disemma coccinea, too. has been successfully fertilised with pollen of Passiflora crerulea. It is very pleasing to see that the observations of Mr. Darwin have stirred up so many observers, not only in this country, but on the Continent, and in America. Experiments of this nature are now so numerous and rapidly becoming so important to the practical cultivator, whether it be of oxen, of Japan Lilies, or of Wheat and Barley, that their practice in the future will be gradually but profoundly affected by what were at first matters purely of scientific interest and undertaken without a thought of direct practical benefit."]