11 



manner tlie peculiar properties of botli varieties are united 

 in a new offspring, and results of special advantage are often 

 secured. 



In the experiments conducted at Auburn the "W. A. 

 Cook" and "Peerless" varieties were selected to carry the 

 female function, because these plants had distinctive and 

 desirable features which were strongly marked ; and a stable 

 basis was thus offered upon which to develop the future 

 improved bolls. 



Having succeeded in raising strong and healthy plants of 

 all the varieties mentioned in another part of this bulletin, 

 a number of flowers on the best plants of the W. A. Cook 

 and Peerless were prepared in the following manner, on an 

 evening just before sundown, when there was no indication 

 of rain for at least forty-eight hours : 



The buds on the most mature limbs were selected, the 

 petals of which Avould fully expand during the early hours 

 of the next morning, and by means of small scissors these 

 petals {b fig. 1) were cut off' just above their bases, thus ex- 

 posing the stamens and pistils fully to view. The stamens 

 (a fig. 2) were then carefully removed by means of a pair of 

 forceps, without bruising the pistil. Thus denuded of all 

 male organs the pistil was covered with a thin paper bag, as 

 a protection against the wind and insects, and left until 

 next morning by which time it was fully developed with all 

 its functions ready for the reception of the pollen. A 

 healthy flower from a plant of another variety was plucked 

 next morning and carried to the flower prepared the after- 

 noon before, and, by means of a small soft brush, the pollen 

 was dusted on the stigma [b fig. 2) of the pistil. The bag 

 was replaced and carefully fastened around the limb so as 

 to prevent any possibility of pollen from any other source 

 being introduced upon the pistil. A tag, properly labeled, 

 was suspended at the base of the flower for future reference. 

 After two or three days this bag was taken off and the new 

 boll left to grow under the influence of the sun's rays. 

 Many hundreds of these bolls were grown, the fiber gath- 



