PLANT BREEDING FOR NEBRASKA. 



189 



do this successfully it becomes necessary to also remove the petals of 

 the flower, but in all these operations the flower should be cut and hurt 

 as little as possible. This operation of emasculation, can be performed 

 by means of little tweezers or fine pointed scissors, and with some flowers 

 I have used a sharp small stick like a tooth-pick and my thumb nails. 

 After emasculation the flowers should be covered over with a small 

 paper bag to prevent any foreign pollen from getting on to the stigma. 

 Figure 2 shows a strawberry bud before and after emasculation. Figure 

 3 shows the flowers with the bag tied over. 



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Fig. 2. strawberry bud before and after emasculation; A, before emascu- 

 lation; B, after emasculation, showing the head of pistils 

 (the stamens and petals have been removed. 



The next day or sometimes longer "the stigma will start to become 

 sticky, just as though it were exuding a bit of honey, and then is the 

 best time to apply the pollen from the flower which is to be crossed onto 

 the first flower. If the two plants blossom at the same time, then it is 

 best to pick several well-opened flowers and see whether the anthers are 

 open and are shedding pollen when shaken on the thumb nail. If pollen 

 drops easily then apply it directly onto the stigmas or shake on the 



