Chapter 1

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Various means which favour or determine the cross-fertilisation of plants.--Benefits derived from cross-fertilisation.--Self-fertilisation favourable to the propagation of the species.--Brief history of the subject.--Object of the experiments, and the manner in which they were tried.--Statistical value of the measurements.--The experiments carried on during several successive generations.--Nature of the relationship of the plants in the later generations.--Uniformity of the conditions to which the plants were subjected.--Some apparent and some real causes of error.--Amount of pollen employed.--Arrangement of the work.--Importance of the conclusions.