cxxviii Journal of Proceedings.
The main fact shown is that an illegitimate union produces offspring
almost wholly of its own form ; but that the long-styled form, when
thus fertilised, transmits its own form much more strongly than the
short-styled form under similar conditions. Thus when 516 plants were
produced on eight different occasions as a result of illegitimate unions
between long-styled plants, only thirteen were short-styled ; or in the pro-
portion of about one hundred to three ; while when 181 plants were
produced on five occasions as a result of illegitimate unions between
short-styled plants, as many as forty-five were long-styled; or in the propor-
tion of one hundred to thirty-three. In these cases, those plants among
the offspring which were of the opposite form to their parents were
doubtless due, as Darwin suggests, to a reversion to their grandparent
of that form.
Our own experiments have been as follows :—In the year 1882, we
obtained and sowed a quantity of wild-grown seed of the following
species : Cowslip (P. veris), Primrose (P. vulgaris), Oxlip (P. elatior),
and Mealy Primrose (P. farinosa). The seeds of the latter never ger-
minated.
The results are given in the annexed table, which shows that
in nature each form is produced in about equal numbers. This fact is
brought out clearly in all our experiments except one—the results, in this
ease, having, perhaps, been interfered with by some unknown cause ;
If our experiments be regarded as conclusive, it is shown that, as a
rule, a plant produces more offspring of the opposite, than it does of its
own, form ; for the majority of plants grown from the seed of long-
styled plants, were short-styled on three occasions out of four : while the
majority of the plants grown from the seed of short-styled plants were
long-styled on two occasions out of three ; but, until further evidence is
obtained, we prefer to regard this as a mere coincidence.
Professor Boulger said that such practical experiments as those of
Messrs. Rosling and Christy deserved every encouragement, and he
hoped that they would repeat the trials on a larger scale.
It was announced that the Club had commenced the explorations in
* About an equal quantity of each form was sown, † These plants were
unfortunately destroyed. ‡ One equal-styled.