PERIOD OF FLOWERING.
In some cases, as with Digitalis, Dianthus, and Reseda, a larger number of the crossed than of the self-fertilised plants threw up flower-stems; but this probably was merely the result of their greater power of growth; for in the first generation of Lobelia fulgens, in which the self-fertilised plants greatly exceeded in height the crossed plants, some of the latter failed to throw up flower-stems. With a large number of species, the crossed plants exhibited a well-marked tendency to flower before the self-fertilised ones growing in the same pots. It should however be remarked that no record was kept of the flowering of many of the species; and when a record was kept, the flowering of the first plant in each pot was alone observed, although two or more pairs grew in the same pot. I will now give three lists,—one of the species in which the first plant that flowered was a crossed one,—a second in which the first that flowered was a self-fertilised plant,—and a third of those which flowered at the same time.
[SPECIES, OF WHICH THE FIRST PLANTS THAT FLOWERED WERE OF CROSSED PARENTAGE.
Ipomoea purpurea.
I record in my notes that in all ten generations many of the crossed plants flowered before the self-fertilised; but no details were kept.
Mimulus luteus (First Generation).
Ten flowers on the crossed plants were fully expanded before one on the self-fertilised.
Mimulus luteus (Second and Third Generation).
In both these generations a crossed plant flowered before one of the self-fertilised in all three pots.
Mimulus luteus (Fifth Generation).