Twelve flowers on the same
plants were fertilised with their own pollen, and produced eleven
capsules. The seeds in the ten crossed capsules weighed 31.7 grains,
whilst those in ten of the self-fertilised capsules weighed 47.67
grains; or as 100 to 150. The much greater productiveness of the
self-fertilised than of the crossed capsules can hardly be attributed to
chance, as all the capsules of both lots were very fine and healthy
ones.
The seeds were placed on sand, and several pairs in an equal state of
germination were planted on the opposite sides of three pots. The
remaining seeds were thickly sown on the two sides of Pot 4, so that the
plants in this pot were much crowded. The tallest plant on each side of
each pot was measured. Whilst the plants were quite young the four
tallest crossed plants averaged 7.87 inches, and the four tallest
self-fertilised 14.87 inches in height; or as 100 to 189. The heights at
this age are given in the two left columns of Table 6/84.
When in full flower the tallest plants on each side were again measured,
see the two right hand columns in Table 6/84. But I should state that
the pots were not large enough, and the plants never grew to their
proper height. The four tallest crossed plants now averaged 18.5, and
the four tallest self-fertilised plants 32.75 inches in height; or as
100 to 178. In all four pots a self-fertilised plant flowered before any
one of the crossed.
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