Forcing-House Miscellanies. 403 



all kinds of pollination made by hand, as it is so readily kept clean 

 of foreign pollen. Figure 74 represents a flower of an egg-plant. 

 In the center will be seen the stigma which projects beyond the 

 tips of the ring of anthers or pollen-bearing organs which surround 

 it. If an anther is separated and closely examined it will be seen 

 that there are too small openings at the tip ; it is through these that 



74. — Flower of Egg-plant. 



the pollen normally escapes. But this escape does not take place 

 freely until the flower has matured to such an extent that the tips 

 of the anthers stand erect and recede from the stigma, leaving the 

 latter standing unsupported. The pollen can be most rapidly 

 gathered upon the spatula by inserting the point of the metal into 

 the side of the anther and opening it by an upward movement of 

 the instrument. In this manner a large quantity of pollen may be 

 gathered very rapidly, and it is the work of but an instant to press 

 it upon the end of the stigma. One such treatment, if performed 

 when the surface of the stigma is adhesive, is sufficient for each 

 blossom. 



Egg-plants are subject to the attacks of all the common green- 

 house pests, but if care is exercised from the beginning no serious 

 damage need be feared. Green-fly is easily overcome by tobacco 

 smoke, as described on page 408, while mealy bug can be overcome 

 by well directed streams of water. The foliage of egg-plants is not 

 easily injured by such applications of water, and the insects may be 

 dislodged with impmiity as often as they appear. The worst pests 



