341 



ties where numbers of different varieties are grown in close proxi- 

 mity, and where no attempt is made to protect the flowers from 

 promiscuous cross-fertiHzation. 



Il is now generally acknowledged that by securing fertilization 

 of a plant of one variety with pollen from a plant of a different 

 variety, through cross-pollination, we obtain a variable race of 

 which the individual plants may be expected to possess the in- 

 separable characters of both parents in a varying degree. 



The ami of this cross-fertilization was to combine the good qua- 

 lities of two distinct varieties into a single variety, by securing a 

 number of cross-fecundations between the two, and rearing plants 

 from the seeds thus formed. 



I'he first step in this direction was to make oneself intimately 

 acquainted with the structure and functions of the flower. The 

 flower of the mango, which is pale-yellow with a pinkish tinge, is 

 very small, being only about 3 mm. in diameter. The flowers are 

 borne on much-branched panicles and are very brittle : therefore 

 great care and skill are necessary in their successful manipula- 

 tion. There are five stamens, not all of which are fully developed 

 and produce pollen. 



In the variety chosen as the pollen parent in this instance, two 

 of the five stamens produced pollen but only the pollen from the 

 largest stamen proved to be fertile. 



Ceylon Xo. 1 — the variety chosen as the pollen parent — is of 

 good appearance, a prolific bearer, and possesses excellent keeping 

 qualities which should make it a valuable variety for shipping 

 purposes, but it is of poor flavor. The variety chosen as the seed 

 parent was the Julie. This variety is a free and regular bearer and 

 possesses an excellent flavor — by some considered to be unsur- 

 passed — but the fruit is too delicate to stand shipment. 



In this particular case the main object sought was to endeavor 

 to procure a variety bearing the keeping qualities of the pollen 

 parent, combined with the excellent flavor of the seed parent. 



Panicles bearing flowers of the pollen parent were enclosed in 

 muslin bags. Before the flowers had time to open, to prevent 

 foreign pollen becoming mixed with it, panicles of the seed 

 parent were carefully selected in the most sheltered portions of 

 the trees, and the number of flower buds on them reduced to 

 about twenty. .As soon as these were large enough to handle — 

 this was usually found to be about one day previous to their open- 

 ing naturally — they were opened and emasculated. In most cases 

 the corolla was also cut away with a sharp pair of curved mani- 

 cure scissors : this was found to give easier access to the stigma. 

 Great skill and care were necessary in this operation, as the pedi- 

 cels are extremely brittle and many flowers were lost in this way. 

 some falling at once and others withering, no doubt because of 

 injuries received during emasculation. 



After emasculation, the panicles were at once enclosed in soft 

 paper bags — 1 lb. sugar bags being used for the purpose — the 



