File:Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 9 (1892) (20694899281).jpg

Title: Contributions from the Botanical Laboratory, vol. 9
Identifier: contributionsfro09univ (find matches)
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: University of Pennsylvania. Botanical Laboratory
Subjects: Botany; Botany
Publisher: Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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\ i Zirkle: Early Records of Plant Hybrids 439 I'
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PAUL DUDLEY—JURIST AND NATURALIST The naturalists of Colonial America were many of them ^f^^^^.^J" .^^l^j^\' I^^^Jj Paul Dudley, Attorney General of Massachusetts m 1702, and a fel ow of he Ko> Society was one of the first to discuss the effects of cross polhnation m maize. and found it wanted the Punctutn Vitae, which perhaps might have been the Case with Mr. Geoffrey; but if not, the female Embryones might have been impregnated another Way, as he experimented with twelve Tulips, which he set by themselves about six or seven Yards from any other, and as soon as they blew, he took out the Stamina so very carefully, that he scattered none of the Dust, and about two Days after- wards, he saw Bees working on the Tulips, in a Bed where he did not take out the Stamina^ and when they came out, they were loaded with the Dust on their Bodies and Legs: He saw them fly into the Tulips, where he had taken out the Stamina^ and when they came out, he went and found they had left behind them sufficient to im- pregnate their Flowers, for they were good ripe Seed; which persuades him, that the Farina may be carried from Place to Place by Insects, and when they happen upon a Flower, whose Uterus is capable to be im- pregnated by such a Dust, it may be thus effected. I am of Opinion, this will not suit with Mr. MorlantPs Scheme. For tho' we may suppose the Stamina of every Flower to be loaded with a due Proportion of the Farina^ vet this accidental Conveyance of it to a neighbouring Flower, may be rather less than greater than is necessary: So that, if wanting, then those Embryones^ which had not received its determined Particle into their Bosom, must be defective in Bulk, or barren in growing, but here all were equally fiird. 2. By a Second Letter, October 19, 1721, he informs me, that he bought a Parcel of Savoy Seeds of a Neighbour, which he sowed, and planted out the Plants; but was surprised to see the Production: For he had half of them red Cabbages, and some white Cabbages, and some Savoys with red Ribs, and some neither one Sort nor other, but a Mixture of all Sorts together in one Plant. He went to the Gardiner and told him his Tale, who shew'd him, that he was in the same Condition, but did not know how it should come to pass, for he was sure he took special Care in saving of the Seed. Being askM how and where he planted them for Seed, he shew'd him them under a South- West Hedge, and told him the Manner in which he planted them: First, a Dozen of white Cabbages, then a Dozen of Savoys, and then a Dozen of Red. Then he im- mediately thought how it came to pass, by the Effluvia impregnating the Uterus of one another; and it is very common for our Gardiners to plant white and red Cabbages together for Seed, and they are as often dis- appointed by having a Degeneracy of both Kinds, which they attribute to the Soil, and think that is the Cause: They send to Hol- land for a fresh Supply of Seeds, and say our Soil will not continue that Sort Good. He told them his Opinion, and they laugh at him for it, and will not be turnM out of their Road, although they should have never so many Experiments shew'd them But it is Time to proceed to another Ex- periment of my Correspondent, Mr. Miller, Being persuaded to it by an ingenious Gardiner, he pull'd off all the Male-Flowers of some Melon Plants so soon as they ap- peared; but instead of finding, as his Friend informed him, that these Flowers exhausted the Nourishment from the Fruit; he found that, without these Flowers none of the Melons would grow, for that he was de- prived of the Fruit which he expected. Paul Dudley One early record of hybridization in Zea Mays did receive publicity and was incorporated twice by Philip Miller in the Gardene/s Dictionary. London, 1731, under the headings "GENERA- TION" and "MAYS: Indian Wheat." The source of Miller's information con- cerning the spontaneous crossing of dif- ferent varieties of this New World form was a paper by Paul Dudley, writ- ten in New England and sent to the Royal Society. The communication was entitled "Observations on some of the Plants in New England, with remark- able Instances of the Nature and Power of Vegetation," and was published in the Philosophical Transactions, number 385. Paul Dudley was a member of a dis- tinguished Massachusetts family. In 1702 he l>ecame Attorney General of the Colony and in 1718 a Judge of the Superior Court. He was a Naturalist

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