Last spring I sent a few notes of observation, on my experiments with corn, to the Philadelphia Record, for the purpose of ascertaining the present views regarding that plant; the Agricultural Editor wrote an article, and it was printed in that paper of March 7th. He positively stated that the colors were produced from pollen from corn plants of the various colors. The idea of anything like the possibility of the florets having the power of changing their color, was not to be thought of for a moment. From the remarks made in that article in which your name appeared, I inferred that you were of the same opinion as myself. I thought you might be interested to know that I have experimented for five years with the object of determining the following questions :

1. Is the corn known by different names and colors, distinct varieties ? One authority says, Spain alone has 130 distinct varieties.

2. Do the florets change color (wholly or partially) independent of the pollen of the plant ?

3. Can full, plump grains be produced from a dent corn ?

In taking up an ear of dent corn seven years ago to examine it carefully, it occurred to me that it had been cut before it was perfectly ripe, or that there was something wanting for its perfect development.

Five years ago and since, I have been experimenting to answer these questions, as I believe that all the colors, shapes and sizes of corn have been propagated from one plant, whatever the original color may have been, and with my experiments of last year with white dent, and this year with yellow dent corn, I am almost convinced of my success. Last year I produced two ears with red florets beneath white corn, and the color from the florets permeated the white c'orn, giving it a pinkish color. I am confident this change was entirely in the florets, for the pollen shed from the tassel which was a large one must have been white. I was also fortunate in preserving an ear of the kind grown which is a perfect match. I also produced full, plump grain. This year I took an ear of yellow dent, treated it in the same manner, and produced florets from white to dark red, the dark red permeating the yellow corn, showing again internal changes; the grain is of all shapes and sizes, and even without dent and others with various degrees of dent. Corn maintains its character, when once established, with great pertinacity, but climate, soil and cultivation will produce in many plants marked changes.

I am confident that whatever the color of the corn planted be, the florets have the power of changing under certain conditions, and these conditions, I think I can produce artificially. It is evident that the florets color the corn, and the many partial changes that have been observed (as to the one you raised the question of the innate power of changing) has erroneously been attributed to foreign pollen. Cross fertilization is self evident, and no one questions it, but I believe the male (pollen) does not have his own way all the time, but the female (florets) will assert her rights when little expected.

If you are interested in this subject, I will show you the results of my experiments some time when in Philadelphia. Jersey City, N. J.

[Nothing can be more certain than that pollen has not its own way all the time - in other words that not all variation comes from the action of pollen. We might decide this theoretically as the writer does; if all variations spring originally from one parent species, as most of us believe, the first variation must have been wholly independent of crossing between two varieties. There were not two varieties in existence to cross. But the question is practically decided, for it is an every-day experience with introduction of new species, that variations occur independent of crossing.

This is, however, often forgotten, especially when the subject of the immediate influence of pollen on fruits is concerned. Natural or innate variation is lost sight of, and changes, easily accounted for on this principle, referred to pollen influence. That change in corn is often from the influence of pollen can scarcely be denied, but that it often occurs independently of this action is well shown by our correspondent. - Ed. G. M].