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The best method yet found for collecting the pollen is by means of 

 ordinary paper bags, the size depending upon the size of the corn tassel. 

 Early in the morning the bag is put over the tassel and tied or pinned 

 around the stalk below. The anthers open soon after the sun begins to 

 shine on the plants, and from 10:00 o'clock until noon is a good time to 

 do the pollenizing. Pollen is shed most freely on warm, clear days. 



The method here described has a number of distinct advantages 

 when used with corn. The envelopes are easily made; after a little 

 practice one person can make 25 or 30 in an hour. The worker is inde- 

 pendent of the whim of any manufacturer, paper, twine, and paper clips 

 being the only manufactured things that are necessary. The device is 

 easily applied and easily manipulated; while the bag of pollen is held 

 with one hand, the clip can be removed and the envelope opened with the 

 other. The chance for contamination by stray pollen grains is minimized, 

 for the envelope is never removed after being put in place, the silks are 

 never touched by the hands, and the opening of the envelope exposes only 

 a small surface for a short time. No umbrella or other protecting de- 

 vice is needed. The cover is well ventilated through the cotton, and the 

 silks are protected from extremes of temperature, desiccation, or humid- 

 ity. Well-filled ears have often resulted from a single pollination, and 

 no failures have occurred which could be attributed to the lack of effi- 

 ciency of the device. 



While this method has been used chiefly with corn, it is capable of 

 adaptation to other plants. The envelopes may be made in any size. 

 When used over bisexual inflorescences to insure self-pollination, the 

 envelope can be permanently closed at the top. A support can be pro- 

 vided when the plant is too small to hold the weight of an envelope large 

 enough to cover its inflorescence. 



