New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 820 



It is believed that tliis crossing of tomatoes is an entirely prac- 

 ticable and profitable business proposition since it is not a diffi- 

 cult nor expensive operation. The actual pollination is not so 

 easy as with corn, where the pollen is produced in the tassels, 

 which can easily be removed to prevent self-fertilization ; but the 

 tomato produces so many seeds that comparatively few flowers 

 need be pollinated to secure the quantity of seed desired. The 

 blossoms on the female parent must be bagged some time before 

 opening, to prevent undesired crossing, and the stamens removed 

 two or three days before the pollen is ripe, using a pair of forceps, 

 sharp scissors or similar instrument. When the pistils have be- 

 come receptive, flowers from the male parent, with ripe pollen, 

 are introduced into the bag and shaken up, or the collected pollen 

 is placed on the stigmas. As the flowers in a cluster ripen un- 

 evenly it is necessary to repeat the removal of stamens and in- 

 troduction of pollen every two or three days until the desired 

 number of fruits has set. 



While this process is more rapid than the description miffht 

 indicate, it requires time and care, which must be paid for when 

 the seed is sold ; so that producers who guarantee first generation 

 crossed seed should obtain higher prices for such seed. 



