THE BOOK OF THE PEONY 



(the name of the ovule parent appearing first in 

 order ) should be securely fastened to the stem. 



In crossing some varieties there often arises 

 the difficulty of finding both stigmas and anthers 

 ready for breeding at the same time. Ripe pollen 

 may be kept in dry, air-tight paper bags for a 

 week or more, but the fresher the pollen the more 

 vitality it has. A peony may be forced by plant- 

 ing it in a frame, keeping from frost all Winter, 

 and in the early Spring placing under sash. Forc- 

 ing in a greenhouse may also be employed. 



The equipment for cross-breeding should in- 

 clude a strong magnifying glass, a pair of fine 

 long-handled scissors, a scalpel or a camel's-hair 

 brush and a small receptacle for holding the pol- 

 len. Some hybridisers use a jeweller's eyeglass. 



Single and semi-double varieties of peonies 

 produce seeds most freely. Full double varieties 

 seldom bear any seeds. In cross-breeding peonies, 

 those two varieties which present most nearly the 

 desired characteristics should be chosen, for in 

 cross-breeding between varieties lies the means 

 of strengthening a type and producing variations. 

 Breeding between individual flowers on the same 

 plant generally produces nothing of value. 



184 



