132 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
method undoubtedly eliminates the tedious work of prepar- 
ing the flowers for pollination, but is not to be advocated, 
as the true identification of the parents is always lacking 1n 
hybrids of this nature. 
Pollination.—Probably the best month for experiments in 
pollination is August, when the plants have usually attained 
their maximum growth and are producing their best flowers. 
Intercrossing must be done at a time when the concave 
stigmas of the flowers are well filled with nectar, as with- 
out this fertilization cannot be accomplished. Experience 
has shown that the hours between 9:00 and 11:00 A. M. are 
best suited for this process. 
Plants are selected which will produce the desired uali- 
fication in the progeny. The pistillate parent, or lower 
which is to bear the seed, is carefully emasculated in the 
bud stage. This should be done the day before opening, 
when the stamens are easily broken off and no sign of 
pollen has appeared. The bud is then allowed to close. The 
next essential factor is the total exclusion of all insects by 
enclosing the bud in fine cheese-cloth and tying below the 
ovary. The staminate parent, or flower which is to supply 
the pollen, is then selected, also in the bud stage, and is pro- 
tected in the same manner as the emasculated flower. Pol- 
len should never be removed from anthers which have been 
exposed to the insect’s trail, because of the Basi of 
foreign pollen being left behind. The second day the act 
of pollination is accomplished by the aid of a camel’s-hair 
brush, the pollen readily adhering to the brush, especially 
if it is passed over the anthers with an upward movement. 
The pollen thus obtained is then deposited on the stigma 
which is filled with nectar, the nectar immediately chang- 
ing to a light yellow color. The flower is then rewrapped, 
securely fastened to a stake, and a label attached indicating 
the cross. Within three weeks the seed will be ready for 
collection. 
Nymphaea castaliaflora Pring—This pink-flowered hy- 
brid is the result of the intercrossing during 1912 of two 
varieties of N. capensis, selected from the miscellaneous hy- 
brids of insect agency. This is a large, cup-shaped, well- 
etaled flower, fa: “es to anything else of its type. 
ince 1912 the plant has been pollinated each year with its 
own pollen and by careful selecting and crossing has become 
fixed; in other words, by self pollination the progeny will 
be an exact replica of the parent with a total exclusion of 
the blue color. The plant is readily recognized by its num- 
erous petals and stamens, and large flowers which measure 
eight inches across. It bears as many as six flowers at one 
