Consequently the plant is fairly self-fertile when protected
from insects. A blood-red, silver, globe and Spanish onion were planted
near together; and seedlings were raised from each kind in four separate
beds. In all the beds mongrels of various kinds were numerous, except
amongst the ten seedlings from the blood-red onion, which included only
two. Altogether forty-six seedlings were raised, of which thirty-one had
been plainly crossed.
A similar result is known to follow with the varieties of many other
plants, if allowed to flower near together: I refer here only to species
which are capable of fertilising themselves, for if this be not the
case, they would of course be liable to be crossed by any other variety
growing near. Horticulturists do not commonly distinguish between the
effects of variability and intercrossing; but I have collected evidence
on the natural crossing of varieties of the tulip, hyacinth, anemone,
ranunculus, strawberry, Leptosiphon androsaceus, orange, rhododendron
and rhubarb, all of which plants I believe to be self-fertile. (10/38.
With respect to tulips and some other flowers, see Godron 'De l'Espece'
tome 1 page 252. For anemones 'Gardeners' Chronicle' 1859 page 98. For
strawberries see Herbert in 'Transactions of the Horticultural Society'
volume 4 page 17. The same observer elsewhere speaks of the spontaneous
crossing of rhododendrons.
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